English Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.6 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
English in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering English programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/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 St. Paul is approximately $45,360.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
English Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,560
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
12.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$142,176
Lifetime earnings premium ($237,600) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for English in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for English
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for English in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$41K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$43K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$44K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$42K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$42K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$41K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$45K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$45K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in St. Paul
Chinese Studies
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in St. Paul — 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 St. Paul.