Economics Degree in Eugene, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Eugene, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$85K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$130K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Eugene
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Eugene, OR Overview
Eugene, Oregon (pop. 176,654) has 14 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,157/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Eugene is approximately $84,500, growing to $130,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,720/yr
Private Tuition
$33,710/yr
Room & Board
$18,672/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,904/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Economics Salary in Eugene (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Eugene's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Eugene adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Eugene
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Eugene tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,720 | Private avg: $33,710
Eugene avg aid: $14,904/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,568
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,000
vs HS diploma in Eugene
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Eugene
$979,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,105,000) minus total education cost ($125,568)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Eugene
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Eugene for Economics
University of Oregon
public
$12,720/yr
$50,880 total
Northwest Christian University
private
$33,710/yr
$134,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lane Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Eugene
Eugene offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Eugene Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$73K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Salem, OR
$78K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$72K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$75K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$70K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$69K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$72K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$78K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Eugene
Business Analytics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$91K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$81K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$75K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Eugene — 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 Eugene.