Economics Degree in Dayton, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Dayton, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Dayton
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Dayton, OH Overview
Dayton, Ohio (pop. 137,644) has 9 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $865/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Dayton is approximately $67,600, growing to $104,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,740/yr
Private Tuition
$46,490/yr
Room & Board
$12,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,990/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
50%
Economics Salary in Dayton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Dayton's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Dayton adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Dayton
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Dayton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,740 | Private avg: $46,490
Dayton avg aid: $7,990/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,516
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,200
vs HS diploma in Dayton
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Dayton
$794,484
Lifetime earnings premium ($884,000) minus total education cost ($89,516)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Dayton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Dayton for Economics
University of Dayton
private
$46,490/yr
$185,960 total
Wright State University
public
$9,740/yr
$38,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sinclair Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Dayton
Dayton offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Dayton Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$67K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$62K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$66K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$70K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$68K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Parma, OH
$59K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$55K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$55K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Dayton
Business Analytics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$73K 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 Dayton — 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 Dayton.