English Degree in Montgomery, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Montgomery, AL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$57K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.8 yrs
in Montgomery
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
English in Montgomery, AL Overview
Montgomery is one of Alabama's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 17,419. Public tuition averages $10,814/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Montgomery is approximately $38,640.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$10,814/yr
Private Tuition
$29,622/yr
Room & Board
$11,372/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,044/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
46%
English Salary in Montgomery (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Montgomery's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Montgomery adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Montgomery
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Montgomery tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,814 | Private avg: $29,622
Montgomery avg aid: $7,044/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,744
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,440
vs HS diploma in Montgomery
ROI Payback Period
13.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Montgomery
$113,656
Lifetime earnings premium ($202,400) minus total education cost ($88,744)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Montgomery
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Montgomery for English
Alabama State University
public
$11,068/yr
$44,272 total
Auburn University at Montgomery
public
$10,560/yr
$42,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trenholm State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for English in Montgomery
Montgomery offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Montgomery Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$41K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$37K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Mobile, AL
$41K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$33K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$40K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$43K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$35K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$35K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Montgomery
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$40K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
English Degree in Montgomery — 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 Montgomery.