Economicsat Northwestern University
Graduates earn $84,932/yr in their first year — about 57.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,018K; scenarios range from $825K to $1,078K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Northwestern University
Your Northwestern Economics degree positions you exceptionally well, largely due to the program's rigorous analytical training and the university's unparalleled recruiting pipelines. Employers from top-tier consulting firms, investment banks, and leading tech companies actively seek out graduates, often leveraging the strong alumni network and dedicated career services. This intense demand, amplified by Evanston's proximity to Chicago's financial and business hubs, underpins the robust early career outcomes. While some roles in economics face high AI risk due to the automation of data analysis, your curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and advanced quantitative methods, preparing you to leverage these technologies rather than be replaced by them. To truly differentiate yourself, aggressively pursue internships applying economic theory to real-world data, and explore interdisciplinary studies in fields like data science or computer science to enhance your analytical toolkit.
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 Northwestern University'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 Northwestern University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Northwestern University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northwestern University, 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 Northwestern University
What does a 73/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Northwestern University?
At 73/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Northwestern University?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Northwestern University one of the best schools for Economics?
Among 351 Economics programs, Northwestern University's #61 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What do students actually pay for Economics at Northwestern University?
The 59% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $263,988. At a net cost of $108,572, the earnings multiple improves substantially.