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Economics at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,227/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #119 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	$758K	$731K	$629K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.9x	10.5x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.6x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	70	66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$69,848

Out-of-state: $160,520 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$35,584

49% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,125

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,530

54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $52,227/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.5x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $52,227 far exceeding the $21,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #119 out of 351 programs, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $52,227 to $80,530 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 746 students in Waterbury, CT. 50% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $35,584 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus →

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

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus's Economics program score?

A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →