English Degree in Roanoke, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Roanoke, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.5 yrs
in Roanoke
Cost of Living
88.5
index (100 = avg)
English in Roanoke, VA Overview
While Roanoke has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, English students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,393/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 Roanoke is approximately $37,170.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,393/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,213/yr
Unemployment
2.8%
Graduation Rate
63%
English Salary in Roanoke (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Roanoke's cost of living index of 88.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Roanoke adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Roanoke
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Roanoke tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Roanoke avg aid: $11,213/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,195
vs HS diploma in Roanoke
ROI Payback Period
18.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Roanoke
$80,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($194,700) minus total education cost ($114,372)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Roanoke
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Roanoke for English
Roanoke State University
public
$14,684/yr
$58,736 total
University of Roanoke
public
$12,724/yr
$50,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Roanoke Community College
$5,068/yr
Top Employers for English in Roanoke
Roanoke offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Roanoke 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
Newport News, VA
$39K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$43K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$41K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Roanoke
Chinese Studies
$49K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$44K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$37K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$44K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Roanoke — 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 Roanoke.