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Economics at University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,257/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #304 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 $510K $508K $477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.6x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$48,040
Out-of-state: $104,816 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,828
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,967
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

University of Northern Colorado's Economics graduates start at $45,257/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 10.6x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,967 in median debt clears quickly against $45,257 in annual earnings.

At #304 out of 351 programs, University of Northern Colorado's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Northern Colorado

A 86% acceptance rate means University of Northern Colorado is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 5,693 students in Greeley, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Colorado →

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 Northern Colorado

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,308) Computer Engineering ($56,557) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($50,739) Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences ($46,954) Chemistry ($45,406) Mathematics ($44,668) Special Education and Teaching ($44,009) Sustainability Studies ($42,076)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Northern Colorado's Economics program score?
A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Northern Colorado 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 Northern Colorado?
Lower starting pay at University of Northern Colorado 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 →