Economics Degree in Arvada, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Arvada, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$106K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Arvada
Cost of Living
105.5
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Arvada, CO Overview
While Arvada has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,944/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Arvada is approximately $68,575, growing to $105,500 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,461/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Economics Salary in Arvada (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arvada's cost of living index of 105.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Arvada adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Arvada
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Arvada tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Arvada avg aid: $8,461/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,576
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,650
vs HS diploma in Arvada
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arvada
$792,174
Lifetime earnings premium ($896,750) minus total education cost ($104,576)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Arvada
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arvada for Economics
Arvada State University
public
$11,667/yr
$46,668 total
University of Arvada
public
$11,617/yr
$46,468 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arvada Community College
$5,532/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Arvada
Arvada offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arvada Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$83K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$79K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$72K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$82K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$69K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$67K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Westminster, CO
$67K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$79K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Arvada
Business Analytics
$82K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$53K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$61K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Arvada — 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 Arvada.