Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $41,713/yr fall 23% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.
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 12% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,713 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #258 of 351 Economics programs, University of Kentucky falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $62,955 show a 51% jump from the $41,713 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.