Economics Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $52,000, growing to $80,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Economics Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,000
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$586,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($680,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Economics
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles 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
Lafayette, LA
$68K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$57K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$60K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lake Charles
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Lake Charles.