Economicsat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $74,958/yr in their first year — about 39.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $799K; scenarios range from $675K to $834K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
Your Economics degree from UVa positions you exceptionally well, largely due to the university's rigorous curriculum and immense prestige. Employers in finance, consulting, and tech actively recruit from programs like this, valuing the analytical rigor and quantitative skills you develop. This isn't just about theory; you'll learn to apply economic frameworks to real-world business strategy, public policy, and data interpretation, making you a versatile candidate for roles across industries. The strong alumni network also creates invaluable pipelines to leading firms and government agencies, particularly in the DC metro area and major financial centers. While some analytical tasks may face AI disruption, the strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills honed here remain highly sought after. To maximize your prospects, actively seek internships that combine your economic knowledge with practical data analysis or project management experience, ensuring you build skills that complement evolving technologies.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Virginia's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Economics
How University of Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, 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 →Frequently asked about Economics at University of Virginia
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
This program scores 76/100 — 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 $675,085 in decade earnings vs $833,584 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.