Economics Degree in Tulsa, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Tulsa, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Tulsa
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Tulsa, OK Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pop. 413,066) has 15 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, 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 Tulsa is approximately $54,600, growing to $84,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$6,582/yr
Private Tuition
$38,753/yr
Room & Board
$10,330/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,592/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Economics Salary in Tulsa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tulsa's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Tulsa adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Tulsa
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Tulsa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,582 | Private avg: $38,753
Tulsa avg aid: $7,592/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,200
vs HS diploma in Tulsa
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tulsa
$646,352
Lifetime earnings premium ($714,000) minus total education cost ($67,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Tulsa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tulsa for Economics
University of Tulsa
private
$44,726/yr
$178,904 total
Oral Roberts University
private
$32,780/yr
$131,120 total
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
public
$6,582/yr
$26,328 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tulsa Community College
$3,558/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Tulsa
Tulsa offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tulsa Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$63K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Norman, OK
$56K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$60K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$62K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$54K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$58K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$59K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$57K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Tulsa
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Tulsa — 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 Tulsa.