Home › University of South Carolina-Columbia › Business/Managerial Economics

Business/Managerial Economics at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $62,692/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)

ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 81 Business/Managerial Economics programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Managerial Economics graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$924K	$869K	$740K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.2x	17.1x	14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.6x	6.2x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	58%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$101,307

62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $62,692 per year, Business/Managerial Economics graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia earn slightly above the $53,330 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 17.1x 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 — 53% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $23,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #3 out of 81 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's Business/Managerial Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $62,692 to $101,307 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

University of South Carolina-Columbia accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 28,113 students in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

Top Career Paths

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

Economists $115,440/yr

Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business/Managerial Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Business/Managerial Economics program score?

A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Carolina-Columbia's Business/Managerial Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Business/Managerial Economics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Business/Managerial Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank so high for Business/Managerial Economics?

The #3 ranking out of 81 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →