Program Analysis
At $37,798 per year, Economics graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The 10.4x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $21,201 debt-to-$37,798 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #325 out of 351 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,798 to $54,554 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.