Economics Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $54,600, growing to $84,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Economics Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x 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: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,200
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$625,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($714,000) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Economics
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/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 Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$61K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$63K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$52K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$56K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$62K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$57K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$59K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$54K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Columbia
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$59K 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
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K 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.