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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #304 of 351

Economicsat University of Northern Colorado

Graduates earn $45,257/yr in their first year — about 16.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $508K; scenarios range from $477K to $510K depending on AI disruption.

Greeley, CO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
56
Optimistic
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,257
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$508K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Northern Colorado

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.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$477K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple9.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$508K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$510K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Northern Colorado's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How University of Northern Colorado stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at University of Northern Colorado

Other top programs at University of Northern Colorado

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Northern Colorado, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at University of Northern Colorado

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.