Economics Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Wichita is approximately $67,600, growing to $104,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Economics Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,200
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$798,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($884,000) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Economics
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Kansas Cities
Overland Park, KS
$67K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$54K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$63K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$55K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$70K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$56K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$63K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$62K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Business Majors in Wichita
Business Analytics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.