Program Analysis
The financial outcomes here illustrate the significant challenge of translating a liberal arts economics degree into immediate high-earning careers, particularly from a smaller institution in a regional labor market like Galesburg. Without strong, established recruiting pipelines into major financial hubs or tech centers, many graduates find themselves competing for a limited number of local opportunities or in roles that don't fully leverage an economics skillset in the early years. The high AI risk also means entry-level analytical tasks are increasingly vulnerable, pushing demand towards more specialized or advanced quantitative skills not always emphasized in a general economics curriculum. You'll likely need to be exceptionally proactive in acquiring technical skills, pursuing internships in major cities, or planning for graduate school immediately if your goal is to access the high-paying economist or data scientist roles often associated with the field.