Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $40,155 place California State University-San Marcos below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 24.4x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $40,155 far exceeding the $18,620 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #159 of 351 Economics programs, California State University-San Marcos scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $77,155 show a 92% jump from the $40,155 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.