Economics at Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,046/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 9.2x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #197 of 351 Economics programs

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 $782K $752K $643K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.2x 7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.7x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$81,936
Out-of-state: $204,744 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,396
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,150
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,064
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,046/yr, Economics graduates from Virginia Military Institute land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.2x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $22,150 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #197 of 351 Economics programs, Virginia Military Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $80,064 show a 74% jump from the $46,046 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Virginia Military Institute

With 82% of applicants admitted, Virginia Military Institute prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 1,560 in Lexington, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Military Institute →

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

Other Majors at Virginia Military Institute

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 Virginia Military Institute?
This program scores 65/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $643,337 in decade earnings vs $781,804 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →