Economics Degree in Louisville, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Louisville, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.6 yrs
in Louisville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Louisville, KY Overview
Louisville, Kentucky (pop. 633,045) has 17 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,349/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Louisville is approximately $58,500, growing to $90,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$12,324/yr
Private Tuition
$37,190/yr
Room & Board
$12,044/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,150/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
58%
Economics Salary in Louisville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Louisville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Louisville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Louisville
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Louisville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,324 | Private avg: $37,190
Louisville avg aid: $16,150/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,000
vs HS diploma in Louisville
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Louisville
$667,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($765,000) minus total education cost ($97,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Louisville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Louisville for Economics
University of Louisville
public
$12,324/yr
$49,296 total
Bellarmine University
private
$45,790/yr
$183,160 total
Spalding University
private
$28,590/yr
$114,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Louisville
Louisville offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Louisville 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 Louisville
Business Analytics
$70K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$63K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Louisville — 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 Louisville.