Economics Degree in San Bernardino, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for San Bernardino, CA. 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
2.6 yrs
in San Bernardino
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Economics in San Bernardino, CA Overview
San Bernardino is one of California's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 21,939. Public tuition averages $7,316/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in San Bernardino is approximately $67,600, growing to $104,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$7,316/yr
Private Tuition
$48,781/yr
Room & Board
$13,152/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,226/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Economics Salary in San Bernardino (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Bernardino'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.San Bernardino adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for San Bernardino
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local San Bernardino tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,316 | Private avg: $48,781
San Bernardino avg aid: $15,226/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,872
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,200
vs HS diploma in San Bernardino
ROI Payback Period
2.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Bernardino
$802,128
Lifetime earnings premium ($884,000) minus total education cost ($81,872)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in San Bernardino
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Bernardino for Economics
California State University, San Bernardino
public
$7,316/yr
$29,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Bernardino Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in San Bernardino
San Bernardino offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Bernardino Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$92K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$91K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$84K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$74K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$77K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$73K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$75K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$86K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in San Bernardino
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 San Bernardino — 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 San Bernardino.