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Economics at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,004/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #257 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 $651K $635K $563K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 12.8x 11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.0x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 60 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,799
62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northeastern Illinois University's Economics graduates start at $40,004/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 26%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 12.8x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #257 out of 351 programs, Northeastern Illinois University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $40,004 to $64,799 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

A 70% acceptance rate means Northeastern Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois 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

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 Northeastern Illinois University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,615) Computer Science ($62,831) Accounting and Related Services ($50,475) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,131) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,807) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,630) Business/Commerce, General ($45,015) Marketing ($43,320)

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

How does Northeastern Illinois University's Economics program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois University?
Lower starting pay at Northeastern Illinois University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →