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Economics at University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,767/yr (-30% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 13.2x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #256 of 351 Economics programs

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 $789K $759K $648K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.8x 13.2x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.5x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,252
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,992
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Illinois Chicago's Economics graduates start at $37,767/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 30%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 13.2x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,500 in median debt clears quickly against $37,767 in annual earnings.

At #256 out of 351 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $37,767 to $75,992 over five years (101% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Illinois Chicago

A 78% acceptance rate means University of Illinois Chicago is accessible to most applicants, with 21,814 students enrolled in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →

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

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at University of Illinois Chicago

Computer Science ($78,040) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,045) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($72,926) Computer Engineering ($71,148) Mechanical Engineering ($69,871) Civil Engineering ($69,310) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,781) Accounting and Related Services ($65,680)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Illinois Chicago's Economics program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Illinois Chicago 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 University of Illinois Chicago?
Lower starting pay at University of Illinois Chicago may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →