Economics Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$82K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$126K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/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 Fort Collins is approximately $81,900, growing to $126,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Economics Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$37,800
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$943,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,071,000) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for Economics
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$83K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$79K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$72K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$69K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$67K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$69K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$67K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$79K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Fort Collins
Business Analytics
$98K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$88K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$63K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$63K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$63K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$78K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$63K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$73K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.