Economics Degree in Carmel, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Carmel, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$105K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Carmel
Cost of Living
105.2
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Carmel, IN Overview
While Carmel has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,124/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 Carmel is approximately $68,380, growing to $105,200 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,124/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,619/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
46%
Economics Salary in Carmel (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Carmel's cost of living index of 105.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Carmel adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Carmel
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Carmel tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $34,000
Carmel avg aid: $13,619/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,296
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,560
vs HS diploma in Carmel
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Carmel
$796,904
Lifetime earnings premium ($894,200) minus total education cost ($97,296)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Carmel
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Carmel for Economics
Carmel State University
public
$10,293/yr
$41,172 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Carmel Community College
$5,781/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Carmel
Carmel offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Carmel 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
Fishers, IN
$65K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$54K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$61K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$55K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Carmel
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 Carmel — 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 Carmel.