Economics Degree in New Bedford, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for New Bedford, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4 yrs
in New Bedford
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Economics in New Bedford, MA Overview
While New Bedford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,635/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 New Bedford is approximately $66,625, growing to $102,500 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,635/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,843/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Economics Salary in New Bedford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New Bedford's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.New Bedford adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for New Bedford
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local New Bedford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
New Bedford avg aid: $9,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$122,940
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,750
vs HS diploma in New Bedford
ROI Payback Period
4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New Bedford
$748,310
Lifetime earnings premium ($871,250) minus total education cost ($122,940)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in New Bedford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New Bedford for Economics
New Bedford State University
public
$15,984/yr
$63,936 total
University of New Bedford
public
$18,237/yr
$72,948 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New Bedford Community College
$5,720/yr
Top Employers for Economics in New Bedford
New Bedford offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New Bedford 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
Lowell, MA
$73K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$71K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$84K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$77K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in New Bedford
Business Analytics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$72K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$51K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$59K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in New Bedford — 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 New Bedford.