Economics Degree in Gresham, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Gresham, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$72K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Gresham
Cost of Living
110.2
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Gresham, OR Overview
While Gresham has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,788/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 Gresham is approximately $71,630, growing to $110,200 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,788/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,238/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
75%
Economics Salary in Gresham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Gresham's cost of living index of 110.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Gresham adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Gresham
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Gresham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Gresham avg aid: $11,238/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,752
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,060
vs HS diploma in Gresham
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Gresham
$831,948
Lifetime earnings premium ($936,700) minus total education cost ($104,752)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Gresham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Gresham for Economics
Gresham State University
public
$11,604/yr
$46,416 total
University of Gresham
public
$12,019/yr
$48,076 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Gresham Community College
$5,463/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Gresham
Gresham offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Gresham 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
Eugene, OR
$85K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$78K starting · COL 120
14 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 Gresham
Business Analytics
$86K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$77K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$55K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$55K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$68K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Gresham — 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 Gresham.