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Best Economics Schools Near Decatur, IL (2026)
Decatur, Illinois has 12 accredited schools offering economics programs, with tuition ranging from $10,258 to $58,649 per year for indexed programs. Decatur has a population of about 70,368. Median household income is $50,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning economics-related role is Statistician at a median $119,760 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Economics Schools to Decatur
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer economics programs near Decatur, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Decatur city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois economics page.
Economics Wages Near Decatur
Decatur is part of the Decatur, IL metro area (BLS area code 19500). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Illinois statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economist | N/A | IL statewide | – |
| Financial and Investment Analyst | $72,620 | Decatur, IL | $82,149 |
| Statistician | $119,760 | IL statewide | $135,475 |
| Management Analyst | $103,690 | Decatur, IL | $117,296 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Decatur at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 70,368 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $50,809 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Decatur-Area Cities With Economics Programs
- Springfield, IL – 38.7 mi away (160,570 pop)
- Champaign, IL – 39.3 mi away (155,368 pop)
- Urbana, IL – 42.8 mi away (42,014 pop)
- Bloomington, IL – 42.9 mi away (135,015 pop)
- Normal, IL – 46.1 mi away (54,264 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited economics schools are near Decatur, IL?
Our directory has 12 accredited schools offering economics programs near Decatur. The closest is University of Illinois Springfield in Springfield, IL (37.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (92.8 miles). 9 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying economics roles near Decatur?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying economics-related roles near Decatur are: Statistician ($119,760), Management Analyst ($103,690), Financial and Investment Analyst ($72,620). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Illinois statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Springfield instead of Decatur?
Springfield, IL is 38.7 miles from Decatur and has its own set of local economics programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Decatur an affordable place to study economics?
Decatur’s median household income of $50,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Decatur while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Economics Programs
- Is an Economics degree worth it?
- Main Economics degree guide
- Online Economics programs in Illinois
- Economics programs by state
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Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
Back to Best Economics Schools in Illinois: Online Programs (2026)