Economics Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Lexington, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$107K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Lexington
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Lexington, KY Overview
Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Lexington is approximately $69,550, growing to $107,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,360/yr
Private Tuition
$42,200/yr
Room & Board
$10,700/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,397/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
65%
Economics Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Lexington
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Lexington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200
Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,100
vs HS diploma in Lexington
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lexington
$817,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($909,500) minus total education cost ($92,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Lexington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lexington for Economics
University of Kentucky
public
$12,360/yr
$49,440 total
Transylvania University
private
$42,200/yr
$168,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Lexington
Lexington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other Business Majors in Lexington
Business Analytics
$83K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$66K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$62K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Lexington — 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 Lexington.