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Economics at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
78 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
79
Optimistic
78
Base Case
74
Pessimistic
Earnings $59,187/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #16 of 351 Economics programs Top 5%

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 $742K $717K $619K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.6x 17.9x 15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.2x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 79 78 74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,780
-40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,099
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,285
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $59,187/yr, edging above the $53,966 national average for Economics — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.9x 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 $23,099 in median debt against $59,187 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #16 out of 351 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $59,187 to $81,285 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

With a 50% acceptance rate, Purdue University-Main Campus is moderately selective, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue 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

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Compare Economics

Purdue University-Main Campus vs Harvard University →

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Computer Science ($94,786) Computer Engineering ($89,965) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,300) Industrial Engineering ($81,379) Chemical Engineering ($81,105) Mechanical Engineering ($80,374) Materials Engineering ($78,265) Construction Engineering ($76,966)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics program score?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Economics?
The #16 ranking out of 351 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →