Economics Degree in Columbia, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Columbia, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$83K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$127K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
127.2
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Columbia, MD Overview
While Columbia has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,096/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 Columbia is approximately $82,680, growing to $127,200 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,096/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,277/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Economics Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 127.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Columbia avg aid: $11,277/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,584
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$38,160
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$977,616
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,081,200) minus total education cost ($103,584)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Economics
Columbia State University
public
$10,473/yr
$41,892 total
University of Columbia
public
$12,187/yr
$48,748 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbia Community College
$6,406/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$85K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$80K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$73K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$78K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$74K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$71K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$84K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$76K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Columbia
Business Analytics
$99K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$79K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$74K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.