Economics Degree in Upper Darby, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Upper Darby, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$95K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
in Upper Darby
Cost of Living
94.5
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Upper Darby, PA Overview
While Upper Darby has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Economics students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,171/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 Upper Darby is approximately $61,425, growing to $94,500 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
70%
Economics Salary in Upper Darby (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Upper Darby's cost of living index of 94.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Upper Darby adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Upper Darby
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Upper Darby tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Upper Darby avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$118,684
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,350
vs HS diploma in Upper Darby
ROI Payback Period
4.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Upper Darby
$684,566
Lifetime earnings premium ($803,250) minus total education cost ($118,684)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Upper Darby
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Upper Darby for Economics
Upper Darby State University
public
$16,192/yr
$64,768 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Upper Darby Community College
$5,336/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Upper Darby
Upper Darby offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Upper Darby Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$98K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$75K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$73K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$77K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$81K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$59K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Upper Darby
Business Analytics
$74K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$59K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Upper Darby — 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 Upper Darby.