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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #323 of 351

Economicsat University of Puget Sound

Graduates earn $48,153/yr in their first year — about 11.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $646K; scenarios range from $571K to $663K depending on AI disruption.

Tacoma, WA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$48,153
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$646K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Puget Sound

Graduates earn $48,153/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $48,153 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #323 of 351 Economics programs, University of Puget Sound falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $48,153 to $69,224 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

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
$571K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$646K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$663K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at University of Puget Sound

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Puget Sound, 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 Puget Sound

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Puget Sound?

This program scores 52/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $570,718 in decade earnings vs $663,371 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.