Home Schools Virginia Military Institute Economics
Social Sciences · Economics Rank #197 of 351

Economicsat Virginia Military Institute

Graduates earn $46,046/yr in their first year — about 15.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $752K; scenarios range from $643K to $782K depending on AI disruption.

Lexington, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
62
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,046
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$752K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Virginia Military Institute

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.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$643K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple7.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$752K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$782K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Virginia Military Institute's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How Virginia Military Institute stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at Virginia Military Institute

Other top programs at Virginia Military Institute

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Military Institute, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Virginia Military Institute

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.