Economics Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Athens is approximately $66,950, growing to $103,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Economics Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,900
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$786,176
Lifetime earnings premium ($875,500) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Economics
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$66K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$55K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$54K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$66K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$62K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$73K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$70K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$73K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Athens
Business Analytics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.