Economics Degree in Ann Arbor, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Ann Arbor, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$85K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in Ann Arbor
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Ann Arbor, MI Overview
Ann Arbor, Michigan (pop. 123,851) has 14 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,014/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Ann Arbor is approximately $55,250, growing to $85,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,736/yr
Private Tuition
$33,100/yr
Room & Board
$9,067/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,913/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
65%
Economics Salary in Ann Arbor (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Ann Arbor's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Ann Arbor adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Ann Arbor
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Ann Arbor tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,736 | Private avg: $33,100
Ann Arbor avg aid: $16,913/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,212
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,500
vs HS diploma in Ann Arbor
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Ann Arbor
$619,288
Lifetime earnings premium ($722,500) minus total education cost ($103,212)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Ann Arbor
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Ann Arbor for Economics
University of Michigan
public
$16,736/yr
$66,944 total
Concordia University Ann Arbor
private
$33,100/yr
$132,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Washtenaw Community College
$3,600/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Ann Arbor Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Michigan Cities
Detroit, MI
$57K starting · COL 87
43 colleges
Grand Rapids, MI
$57K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$58K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$60K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Lansing, MI
$55K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$59K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$63K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$61K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Ann Arbor
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Ann Arbor — 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 Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Ann Arbor.