Economics Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$83K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$127K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.1 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Santa Rosa is approximately $82,550, growing to $127,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Economics Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$38,100
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
2.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$998,492
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,079,500) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Economics
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa
Business Analytics
$99K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$89K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$79K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$74K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Santa Rosa.