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Economics at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,013/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #82 of 351 Economics programs Top 25%

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	$760K	$732K	$630K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.9x	11.5x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.2x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	73	72	67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$63,952

Out-of-state: $173,488 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,004

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,231

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,373

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,013 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 11.5x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $22,231 in median debt against $54,013 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #82 out of 351 programs, Michigan State University's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $54,013 to $81,373 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University has a 84% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 40,243 in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan 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

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan State University's Economics program score?

A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Michigan State University's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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 does Michigan State University rank so high for Economics?

The #82 ranking out of 351 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →