Economicsat Oregon State University-Cascades Campus
Graduates earn $45,708/yr in their first year — about 15.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $720K; scenarios range from $621K to $746K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at OSU Cascades
At $45,708 per year, Economics graduates from Oregon State University-Cascades Campus earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The 14.3x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $20,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #140 out of 351 programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $45,708 to $76,531 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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 OSU Cascades'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 OSU Cascades stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at OSU Cascades
Other highest-scoring programs offered at OSU Cascades, 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 OSU Cascades
How does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Economics program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Economics graduates.
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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus?
Lower starting pay at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.