Economicsat Purdue University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $59,187/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $717K; scenarios range from $619K to $742K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Purdue University
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.
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 Purdue 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 Purdue University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Purdue University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Purdue 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 Purdue University
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.