Economicsat Pepperdine University
Graduates earn $54,267/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $752K; scenarios range from $643K to $782K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Pepperdine University
Graduates earn $54,267/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $54,267 far exceeding the $24,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #270 of 351 Economics programs, Pepperdine University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $83,724 show a 54% jump from the $54,267 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.
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 Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Pepperdine University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Pepperdine University?
This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $643,371 in decade earnings vs $781,863 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.