Economicsat University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Graduates earn $43,656/yr in their first year — about 19.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $601K; scenarios range from $540K to $614K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of New Mexico
First-year earnings of $43,656 place University of New Mexico-Main Campus below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
With a 18.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $43,656 far exceeding the $18,450 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #168 ranking among 351 Economics programs places University of New Mexico-Main Campus in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 43% earnings increase from $43,656 to $62,431 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 New Mexico'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 New Mexico stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of New Mexico
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of New Mexico, 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 New Mexico
What does a 67/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at University of New Mexico-Main Campus?
At 67/100, University of New Mexico-Main Campus's Economics program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at University of New Mexico-Main Campus?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of New Mexico-Main Campus a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of New Mexico-Main Campus's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.