Economics Degree in Peoria, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Peoria, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Peoria, IL Overview
While Peoria has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $10,566/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 Peoria is approximately $67,600, growing to $104,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,032/yr
Private Tuition
$38,400/yr
Room & Board
$10,566/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,588/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Economics Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,032 | Private avg: $38,400
Peoria avg aid: $9,588/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$74,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,200
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$809,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($884,000) minus total education cost ($74,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for Economics
Bradley University
private
$38,400/yr
$153,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Illinois Central College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$71K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$60K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$70K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$66K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$59K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$51K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$60K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$59K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Peoria
Business Analytics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.