Home › University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire › Economics

Economics at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,344/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #71 of 351 Economics programs Top 25%

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 $645K $630K $560K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.4x 17.0x 15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.5x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,108
Out-of-state: $74,064 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,792
-83% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,875
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,243
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $51,344/yr, Economics graduates from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 17.0x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $21,875 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #71 out of 351 programs, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $51,344 to $68,243 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

With 76% of applicants admitted, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire prioritizes broad access, serving 8,995 students in Eau Claire, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire →

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

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($73,321) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($71,692) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,250) Accounting and Related Services ($61,379) Management Information Systems and Services ($59,409) Finance and Financial Management Services ($58,812) Marketing ($51,621) Chemistry ($50,659)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire rank so high for Economics?
The #71 ranking out of 351 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 →