Economicsat Oregon State University
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 Oregon State University
Starting salaries of $45,708/yr fall 15% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 13.3x 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.
At $20,500 in median debt against $45,708 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #132 out of 351 programs, Oregon State University'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 Oregon State 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 Oregon State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Oregon State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Oregon State 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 Oregon State University
How does Oregon State University'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?
Lower starting pay at Oregon State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.