Economics at Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,655/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #210 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 $626K $612K $548K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.4x 11.1x 10.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.3x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,984
Out-of-state: $96,456 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,652
-49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,750
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,724
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,655/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 11.1x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $46,655 far exceeding the $19,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #210 out of 351 programs, Ohio University-Main Campus's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $46,655 to $64,724 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University-Main Campus accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 18,456 students in Athens, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio University-Main Campus →

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

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ohio University-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Ohio University-Main Campus's Economics program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Ohio University-Main Campus 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →