Economics Degree in Bloomington, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Bloomington, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
in Bloomington
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Bloomington, IN Overview
While Bloomington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,831/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 Bloomington is approximately $53,950, growing to $83,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,948/yr
Private Tuition
$35,439/yr
Room & Board
$12,831/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,996/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
64%
Economics Salary in Bloomington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bloomington's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Bloomington adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Bloomington
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Bloomington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,948 | Private avg: $35,439
Bloomington avg aid: $13,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,116
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,900
vs HS diploma in Bloomington
ROI Payback Period
3.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bloomington
$610,384
Lifetime earnings premium ($705,500) minus total education cost ($95,116)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Bloomington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bloomington for Economics
Indiana University Bloomington
public
$10,948/yr
$43,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Bloomington
Bloomington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bloomington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$61K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$67K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$56K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$58K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$68K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$65K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Hammond, IN
$61K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$55K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Bloomington
Business Analytics
$65K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$48K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Bloomington — 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 Bloomington.