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Economics at Fort Hays State University

Hays, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,690/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 24.2x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #179 of 351 Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $552K $546K $502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.5x 24.2x 22.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.2x 8.1x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$22,532
Out-of-state: $67,244 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,972
-140% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,690 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 24.2x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #179 of 351 Economics programs, Fort Hays State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 9,792 students in Hays, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Hays State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at Fort Hays State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($67,435) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($62,386) Computer Programming ($57,162) Accounting and Related Services ($56,503) Information Science/Studies ($56,399) Management Information Systems and Services ($55,111) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($52,129) Agriculture, General ($48,048)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Fort Hays State University?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $502,140 in decade earnings vs $551,525 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →