English Degree in Springfield, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Springfield, IL. 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
16.1 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
English in Springfield, IL Overview
Springfield, Illinois (pop. 114,394) has 9 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $642/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 Springfield is approximately $38,640.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$12,413/yr
Private Tuition
$27,201/yr
Room & Board
$13,584/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,401/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
61%
English Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield'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.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,413 | Private avg: $27,201
Springfield avg aid: $7,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,440
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
16.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$98,412
Lifetime earnings premium ($202,400) minus total education cost ($103,988)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for English
University of Illinois Springfield
public
$12,413/yr
$49,652 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lincoln Land Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for English in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$46K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$39K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$45K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$43K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$38K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$33K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Peoria, IL
$44K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$38K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Springfield
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
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.