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