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Economics at Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
68
Optimistic
67
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,292/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #176 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

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 $681K $662K $581K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.4x 14.0x 12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.0x 6.8x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 67 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,408
Out-of-state: $97,804 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,284
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,569
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,292 place Texas Tech University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 14.0x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$44,292 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #176 out of 351 programs, Texas Tech University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $44,292 to $69,569 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University accepts 71% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 32,446 in Lubbock, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas Tech 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 Texas Tech University

Computer Engineering ($85,619) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,521) Petroleum Engineering ($80,460) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,544) Chemical Engineering ($77,586) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($76,708) Construction Engineering ($75,421) Civil Engineering ($74,655)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas Tech University's Economics program score?
A score of 67/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Texas Tech University 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 Texas Tech University?
Lower starting pay at Texas Tech University 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 →