Economics Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$113K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.7 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/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 Lowell is approximately $73,125, growing to $112,500 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Economics Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,750
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
3.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$832,858
Lifetime earnings premium ($956,250) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Economics
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$89K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$76K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$86K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$86K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$71K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$84K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$67K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$77K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lowell
Business Analytics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$65K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.