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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #195 of 351

Economicsat University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Graduates earn $50,529/yr in their first year — about 6.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $677K; scenarios range from $592K to $698K depending on AI disruption.

Pittsburgh, PA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$50,529
1-year post-graduation
ROI
7.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$677K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Pittsburgh

First-year earnings of $50,529 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

A 7.9x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $24,989 in median debt against $50,529 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #195 ranking among 351 Economics programs places University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 46% earnings increase from $50,529 to $73,651 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$592K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple6.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$677K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple7.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$698K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple8.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Pittsburgh'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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh

Other top programs at University of Pittsburgh

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh

What does a 65/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?

At 65/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh 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.