Economics Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. 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
2.8 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/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 Lafayette is approximately $67,600, growing to $104,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,374/yr
Private Tuition
$38,796/yr
Room & Board
$11,349/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,367/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Economics Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette'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.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Lafayette tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,374 | Private avg: $38,796
Lafayette avg aid: $7,367/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,200
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$797,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($884,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Economics
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
public
$10,374/yr
$41,496 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
South Louisiana Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$59K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$53K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$64K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$58K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$52K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$57K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$60K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lafayette
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 Lafayette — 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 Lafayette.