Economicsat Cleveland State University
Graduates earn $44,759/yr in their first year — about 17.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $631K; scenarios range from $560K to $647K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cleveland State University
At $44,759 per year, Economics graduates from Cleveland State University earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $19,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #194 out of 351 programs, Cleveland State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,759 to $66,265 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 Cleveland State University'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 Cleveland State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cleveland State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cleveland State University, 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 Cleveland State University
How does Cleveland State University's Economics program score?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Cleveland State University trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Economics earnings lower at Cleveland State University?
Lower starting pay at Cleveland State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.