Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $37,679/yr fall 30% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.
At $17,000 in median debt against $37,679 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #241 of 351 Economics programs, California State University-San Bernardino falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $63,448 show a 68% jump from the $37,679 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.