Economicsat Southern Methodist University
Graduates earn $71,630/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $814K; scenarios range from $685K to $851K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University's Economics program consistently delivers robust financial returns, a clear reflection of its strategic Dallas location and strong curriculum. You're entering a thriving corporate landscape, particularly strong in financial services, consulting, and major corporate headquarters. This proximity creates a direct pipeline to analytical roles in industries like investment banking, risk management, and business intelligence, often with companies leveraging the university's strong regional reputation and alumni network. The program itself tends to emphasize quantitative analysis and critical thinking, preparing you not just for traditional economics roles, but for diverse positions where data interpretation and strategic insights are highly valued. To maximize your outcomes, actively seek internships early within Dallas's robust financial and consulting sectors, and consider a minor or electives in data science or finance to sharpen your market readiness.
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 Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Methodist University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Southern Methodist University?
A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Economics field.
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 $685,462 in decade earnings vs $850,508 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.