Economicsat Texas Tech University
Graduates earn $44,292/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $662K; scenarios range from $581K to $681K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Texas Tech University
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.
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 Texas Tech 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 Texas Tech University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Texas Tech University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas Tech 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 Texas Tech University
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.