Business Economics at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Managerial Economics
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,370/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)
ROI
11.6x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Economics graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $806K | $766K | $665K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.2x | 11.6x | 10.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.2x | 4.9x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 66% | 58% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 61 | 60 | 58 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (4.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,935
81% growth from Year 1
About Virginia Commonwealth University
With 93% of applicants admitted, Virginia Commonwealth University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 20,797 students in Richmond, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →Top Career Paths
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Economists
$115,440/yr
Financial risk specialists
$106,000/yr
Compare & Explore
Business Economics at Other Schools
Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Consider the Trade Route?
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Economics at Virginia Commonwealth University?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business Economics careers?
With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $665,180 in decade earnings vs $806,200 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →