Economics Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$108K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Economics in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $70,200, growing to $108,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Economics Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$32,400
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$822,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($918,000) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Economics
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Economics in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$63K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$66K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$68K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$65K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$65K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$64K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$70K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$70K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in St. Paul
Business Analytics
$84K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$67K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$63K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in St. Paul — 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 St. Paul.