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Economics at University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $64,386/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.7x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 351 Economics programs Top 5%

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	$721K	$698K	$606K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.4x	18.7x	16.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	5.8x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	80	79	75

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,260

Out-of-state: $119,348 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$52,688

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,750

2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,323

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $64,386 at University of Utah come in 19% above the national median of $53,966 for Economics programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $64,386 far exceeding the $15,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #12 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $64,386 to $80,323 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Utah

University of Utah accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 26,041 in Salt Lake City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Utah →

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

Economics at Other Schools

Compare Economics

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Utah?

This program scores 79/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $606,194 in decade earnings vs $721,231 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Utah's Economics program stand out?

Ranked #12 of 351 programs nationally, University of Utah lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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