English Degree in Raleigh, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Raleigh, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.4 yrs
in Raleigh
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
English in Raleigh, NC Overview
Raleigh is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 21 institutions and a student population of 113,809. Public tuition averages $9,101/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 Raleigh is approximately $34,860.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
21
Public Tuition
$9,101/yr
Private Tuition
$30,399/yr
Room & Board
$10,389/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,262/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
62%
English Salary in Raleigh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Raleigh's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Raleigh adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Raleigh
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Raleigh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,101 | Private avg: $30,399
Raleigh avg aid: $7,262/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$77,960
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,810
vs HS diploma in Raleigh
ROI Payback Period
13.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Raleigh
$104,640
Lifetime earnings premium ($182,600) minus total education cost ($77,960)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Raleigh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Raleigh for English
North Carolina State University
public
$9,101/yr
$36,404 total
Meredith College
private
$42,074/yr
$168,296 total
Shaw University
private
$18,724/yr
$74,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wake Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for English in Raleigh
Raleigh offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Raleigh Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$37K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$38K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$46K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$45K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$38K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$46K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$40K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$35K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Raleigh
Chinese Studies
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$42K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$35K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$42K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Raleigh — 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 Raleigh.