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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #196 of 351

Economicsat Trinity University

Graduates earn $57,482/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $787K; scenarios range from $667K to $821K depending on AI disruption.

San Antonio, TX Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$57,482
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$787K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Trinity University

First-year earnings of $57,482 at Trinity University come in 7% above the national median of $53,966 for Economics programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $57,482 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #196 of 351 Economics programs, Trinity University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $88,904 show a 55% jump from the $57,482 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

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
$667K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$787K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple3.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$821K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple4.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Trinity University'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 Trinity University 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 Trinity University

Other top programs at Trinity University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Trinity 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Trinity University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Trinity University?

This program scores 65/100 — 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 $667,118 in decade earnings vs $820,591 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Trinity University a hidden gem for Economics?

After financial aid, the average student pays $94,600 over four years — 54% below the $205,408 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.