Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $50,209 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 13.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $21,000 in median debt against $50,209 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #118 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Ohio State University-Main Campus in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 45% earnings increase from $50,209 to $72,851 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.