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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #346 of 351

Economicsat Austin College

Graduates earn $33,957/yr in their first year — about 37.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $698K; scenarios range from $606K to $721K depending on AI disruption.

Sherman, TX Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
40 AVERAGE
41
Optimistic
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,957
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$698K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Austin College

Austin College's economics program, situated in Sherman, TX, often sees graduates entering a regional job market that differs significantly from major metropolitan hubs. While you'll gain strong critical thinking and analytical skills from a rigorous liberal arts education, the immediate employment landscape for economics majors in a smaller city may lean towards more general business, local government, or non-profit roles rather than the high-finance or consulting pipelines found in larger cities.

Many of the higher-earning career paths for economics graduates, like becoming an economist or data scientist, typically require advanced degrees or specialized certifications beyond a bachelor's. The program's reputation for fostering intellectual depth means you'll be well-prepared for graduate school. To bridge any initial earnings gap and mitigate the noted AI risk in a generalist field, actively seek out internships in larger markets like Dallas or Fort Worth, and consider developing strong quantitative or programming skills alongside your core economics coursework to make yourself more competitive for specialized roles upon graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$606K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$698K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$721K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Austin College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How Austin College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at Austin College

Other top programs at Austin College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Austin College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Austin College

What does a 40/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Austin College?

At 40/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Economics programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Austin College?

The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is Austin College a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If Austin College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.