English Degree in Medford, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Medford, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13 yrs
in Medford
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
English in Medford, OR Overview
While Medford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, English students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,881/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 Medford is approximately $46,620.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,326/yr
Private Tuition
$41,865/yr
Room & Board
$14,881/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,464/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
English Salary in Medford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Medford's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Medford adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Medford
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Medford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,326 | Private avg: $41,865
Medford avg aid: $14,464/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,770
vs HS diploma in Medford
ROI Payback Period
13 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Medford
$143,372
Lifetime earnings premium ($244,200) minus total education cost ($100,828)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Medford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Medford for English
Southern Oregon University
public
$10,326/yr
$41,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rogue Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for English in Medford
Medford offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Medford Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$47K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$55K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$50K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$46K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$49K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$45K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$44K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$51K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Medford
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$49K 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 Medford — 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 Medford.