Economicsat Ohio State University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $50,209/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $671K; scenarios range from $588K to $691K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Ohio State
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.
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 Ohio State'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 Ohio State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Ohio State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ohio State, 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 Ohio State
What does a 70/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
At 70/100, 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 Ohio State University-Main Campus?
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.