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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #9 of 351

Economicsat The University of Texas at Austin

Graduates earn $58,717/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $858K; scenarios range from $716K to $900K depending on AI disruption.

Austin, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
80 STRONG
81
Optimistic
75
Pessimistic
Earnings
$58,717
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$858K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at UT Austin

Studying Economics at UT Austin places you in a uniquely advantageous position, leveraging the university's strong academic reputation and Austin's dynamic job market. Austin's "Silicon Hills" environment, coupled with its status as a state capital and growing financial hub, creates diverse opportunities for economically-minded graduates. This means your economics degree isn't just for traditional roles; you'll find strong demand in data analytics, tech product management, financial services, and consulting, with major employers like Dell, Indeed, or state agencies actively recruiting on campus. The program's rigor ensures you're well-equipped for these analytical demands. The "Very High" AI risk for economics reflects the changing nature of analytical work; AI will augment, not eliminate, much of the quantitative work. Your advantage will come from strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and communication skills that AI cannot replicate. Prioritize developing strong computational skills, perhaps through a data science minor, and seek internships applying economic principles to real-world business challenges.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$716K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple15.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$858K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score80/100
Earnings Multiple18.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$900K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score81/100
Earnings Multiple19.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UT Austin's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at UT Austin

Other top programs at UT Austin

Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at UT Austin

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at The University of Texas at Austin?

This program scores 80/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $715,857 in decade earnings vs $900,081 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Economics program stand out?

Ranked #9 of 351 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.