Economicsat Illinois State University
Graduates earn $44,015/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $682K; scenarios range from $595K to $703K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Illinois State University
At $44,015 per year, Economics graduates from Illinois State University earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The 10.6x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #219 out of 351 programs, Illinois State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $44,015 to $71,687 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful 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 Illinois 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 Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Illinois State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois 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 Illinois State University
How does Illinois State University's Economics program score?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Illinois 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 Illinois State University?
Lower starting pay at Illinois State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.