Economics Degree in Rio Rancho, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Rio Rancho, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
93.8
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Rio Rancho, NM Overview
While Rio Rancho has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,400/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 Rio Rancho is approximately $60,970, growing to $93,800 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$7,700/yr
Private Tuition
$20,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,400/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,427/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
48%
Economics Salary in Rio Rancho (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rio Rancho's cost of living index of 93.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Rio Rancho adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Rio Rancho
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Rio Rancho tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,700 | Private avg: $20,000
Rio Rancho avg aid: $13,427/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,400
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,140
vs HS diploma in Rio Rancho
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rio Rancho
$712,900
Lifetime earnings premium ($797,300) minus total education cost ($84,400)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Rio Rancho
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rio Rancho for Economics
Rio Rancho State University
public
$7,689/yr
$30,756 total
University of Rio Rancho
public
$7,258/yr
$29,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rio Rancho Community College
$5,103/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rio Rancho Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Business Majors in Rio Rancho
Business Analytics
$73K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$66K 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 Rio Rancho — 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 Rio Rancho.