Economics Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Springfield, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.6 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/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 Springfield is approximately $52,000, growing to $80,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Economics Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,000
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$593,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($680,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Economics
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$61K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$63K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$55K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$56K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$62K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$57K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$59K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$54K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Springfield
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.