English Degree in Tempe, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
English degree analysis for Tempe, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.2 yrs
in Tempe
Cost of Living
113
index (100 = avg)
English in Tempe, AZ Overview
While Tempe has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, English students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,552/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 Tempe is approximately $47,460.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$40,205/yr
Room & Board
$19,552/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,200/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
English Salary in Tempe (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tempe's cost of living index of 113 (national average = 100).
Note: National average English salary: $42,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Tempe adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
English ROI Calculator for Tempe
Estimate your return on investment for a English degree using local Tempe tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $40,205
Tempe avg aid: $15,200/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$128,076
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,910
vs HS diploma in Tempe
ROI Payback Period
16.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tempe
$120,524
Lifetime earnings premium ($248,600) minus total education cost ($128,076)
Student Loan Payoff for English in Tempe
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tempe for English
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Salado College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for English in Tempe
Tempe offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for English graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tempe Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common English Job Titles
English in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$64K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$49K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$46K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$52K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$50K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$44K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$53K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$44K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Tempe
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$57K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$57K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$57K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Art History
$57K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
English Degree in Tempe — 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 Tempe.