English Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.7 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
English in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, English students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in English has been declining, graduates with skills in Writing and Critical Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Lowell is approximately $47,250.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
English Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,875
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
15.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$124,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($247,500) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for English
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for English in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$58K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$49K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$56K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$46K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$54K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$43K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$50K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lowell
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$56K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Lowell — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare English ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lowell.