English Degree in Newport News, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Newport News, VA. 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
17.7 yrs
in Newport News
Cost of Living
92.5
index (100 = avg)
English in Newport News, VA Overview
Newport News, Virginia (pop. 186,247) has 7 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 92.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $705/month. 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 Newport News is approximately $38,850.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,491/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,779/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
English Salary in Newport News (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newport News's cost of living index of 92.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Newport News adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Newport News
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Newport News tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Newport News avg aid: $9,779/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,764
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,475
vs HS diploma in Newport News
ROI Payback Period
17.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newport News
$88,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($203,500) minus total education cost ($114,764)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Newport News
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newport News for English
Newport News State University
public
$13,266/yr
$53,064 total
University of Newport News
public
$15,083/yr
$60,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Newport News Community College
$5,242/yr
Top Employers for English in Newport News
Newport News offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newport News Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$37K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$38K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$60K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$39K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$42K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$43K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$41K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$37K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Newport News
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Newport News — 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 Newport News.