Economics Degree in Norfolk, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Norfolk, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Norfolk
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Norfolk, VA Overview
Norfolk, Virginia (pop. 238,005) has 16 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $956/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Norfolk is approximately $60,450, growing to $93,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$10,571/yr
Private Tuition
$25,348/yr
Room & Board
$9,443/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,816/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Economics Salary in Norfolk (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norfolk's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Norfolk adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Norfolk
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Norfolk tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,571 | Private avg: $25,348
Norfolk avg aid: $15,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,056
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,900
vs HS diploma in Norfolk
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norfolk
$710,444
Lifetime earnings premium ($790,500) minus total education cost ($80,056)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Norfolk
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norfolk for Economics
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Norfolk State University
public
$9,932/yr
$39,728 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Norfolk
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Norfolk
Norfolk offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norfolk Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$57K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$59K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$93K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Richmond, VA
$65K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$60K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$66K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$63K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$58K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Norfolk
Business Analytics
$73K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Norfolk — 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 Norfolk.