Economics Degree in Fayetteville, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Fayetteville, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Fayetteville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Fayetteville, NC Overview
Fayetteville, North Carolina (pop. 208,501) has 15 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $877/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Fayetteville is approximately $58,500, growing to $90,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$5,925/yr
Private Tuition
$37,000/yr
Room & Board
$10,494/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,488/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Economics Salary in Fayetteville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fayetteville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Fayetteville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Fayetteville
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Fayetteville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,925 | Private avg: $37,000
Fayetteville avg aid: $14,488/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$65,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,000
vs HS diploma in Fayetteville
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fayetteville
$699,324
Lifetime earnings premium ($765,000) minus total education cost ($65,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Fayetteville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fayetteville for Economics
Fayetteville State University
public
$5,925/yr
$23,700 total
Methodist University
private
$37,000/yr
$148,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fayetteville Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Fayetteville
Fayetteville offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fayetteville Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$58K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$54K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$59K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$71K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$69K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Cary, NC
$71K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$62K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$55K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Business Majors in Fayetteville
Business Analytics
$70K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$63K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Fayetteville — 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 Fayetteville.