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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #160 of 351

Economicsat University of Arizona

Graduates earn $47,908/yr in their first year — about 11.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $654K; scenarios range from $576K to $672K depending on AI disruption.

Tucson, AZ Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
67 SOLID
69
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,908
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$654K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Arizona

Graduates earn $47,908/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.0x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $47,908 far exceeding the $19,489 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #160 out of 351 programs, University of Arizona's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $47,908 to $70,028 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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
$576K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$654K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$672K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple12.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Arizona

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arizona, 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 University of Arizona

How does University of Arizona's Economics program score?

This program scores 67/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Economics graduates.

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.