Economicsat California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Graduates earn $67,501/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $763K; scenarios range from $651K to $794K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly SLO
The Cal Poly SLO Economics program stands out due to its strong emphasis on applied analysis, reflecting the university's renowned "learn by doing" approach. This means you'll develop robust quantitative and analytical skills, making you highly attractive to employers seeking graduates ready to tackle real-world problems from day one.
While San Luis Obispo isn't a major financial hub, your proximity to California's tech and finance centers in the Bay Area and Southern California provides excellent recruiting pipelines. Graduates often transition into data-intensive roles in tech, consulting, and finance, where their analytical acumen is highly valued for business intelligence, market research, and strategic decision-making. The clear progression into management positions further illustrates how these foundational skills lead to leadership opportunities. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue internships that involve data manipulation and statistical software, as these experiences directly translate into the most impactful and rewarding careers for economics graduates.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly SLO's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Economics
How Cal Poly SLO stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly SLO
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly SLO, 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 →Frequently asked about Economics at Cal Poly SLO
What does a 80/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
At 80/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
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 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo one of the best schools for Economics?
Among 351 Economics programs, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.