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Economics at St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $64,916/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #297 of 351 Economics programs

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 $660K $643K $569K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$199,032
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$86,252
57% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,107
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $64,916/yr, edging above the $53,966 national average for Economics — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

At $29,107 in median debt against $64,916 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #297 of 351 Economics programs, St Catherine University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About St Catherine University

St Catherine University has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 2,393 students in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $86,252 — 57% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Catherine University →

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)

Other Majors at St Catherine University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,084) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($72,272) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($54,419) Communication and Media Studies ($44,606) Social Work ($44,257) Public Health ($42,407) Biology, General ($40,937) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($32,946)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at St Catherine University?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $568,664 in decade earnings vs $660,020 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is St Catherine University a hidden gem for Economics?
After financial aid, the average student pays $86,252 over four years — 57% below the $199,032 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →