Economics at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,798/yr (-30% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI
10.4x earnings multiple
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 | $558K | $552K | $506K |
| Earnings Multiple | 10.5x | 10.4x | 9.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 66% | 60% | 41% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 52 | 51 | 53 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,201
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,554
44% growth from Year 1
About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
With 90% of applicants admitted, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale prioritizes broad access, serving 8,116 students in Carbondale, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Economists
$115,440/yr
Compare & Explore
Economics at Other Schools
Other Majors at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Economics program score?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Illinois University-Carbondale trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Lower starting pay at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →