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Economics at North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,728/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #313 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 $567K $559K $512K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,576
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,132
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,801
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

North Central College's Economics program produces graduates earning $52,728/yr — within striking distance of the $53,966 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,801 represents roughly 6 months of the $52,728 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #313 of 351 Economics programs, North Central College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About North Central College

North Central College's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 2,360 in Naperville, IL. The average net cost of $92,132 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at North Central College →

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 North Central College

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($85,168) Accounting and Related Services ($58,717) Human Resources Management and Services ($53,587) Computer Science ($53,544) Finance and Financial Management Services ($51,420) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($48,549) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,074) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,668)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at North Central College?
This program scores 53/100 — 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 $511,670 in decade earnings vs $567,069 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →