Economicsat Knox College
Graduates earn $23,222/yr in their first year — about 57.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $836K; scenarios range from $701K to $875K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Knox College
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.
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 Knox College'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 Knox College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Knox College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Knox College, 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 Knox College
How does Knox College's Economics program score?
This program scores 33/100 — on the lower end for Economics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Knox College Economics graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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 Knox College?
Lower starting pay at Knox College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Economics at Knox College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $222,348, but the average net cost is $99,500 — a 55% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.