Economicsat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Graduates earn $68,416/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $924K; scenarios range from $761K to $973K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Michigan
Your degree from UMich's highly-regarded Economics program equips you with robust analytical and quantitative skills, making you a strong candidate for demanding roles. This strength, coupled with the university's national recruiting reach and powerful alumni network, explains the strong career trajectories you'll see. Graduates frequently enter competitive fields like investment banking, management consulting, and data science, securing positions at top-tier firms and government agencies often recruited directly from Ann Arbor. The program's rigorous curriculum provides a versatile foundation applicable across many sectors, from finance in Chicago to tech in Silicon Valley.
However, the field's increasing reliance on data analysis also means many routine tasks are susceptible to AI augmentation. To future-proof your career, you'll want to cultivate advanced quantitative skills, perhaps through a minor in computer science or statistics, and focus on strategic problem-solving and interdisciplinary thinking that AI cannot replicate. Leverage UMich's extensive career services and alumni connections to tailor your path.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Michigan's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Economics
How University of Michigan stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Michigan
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Michigan, 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 →Frequently asked about Economics at University of Michigan
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
This program scores 80/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $760,859 in decade earnings vs $973,473 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Economics program stand out?
Ranked #8 of 351 programs nationally, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.