Program Analysis
At $56,261/yr, Economics graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Economics programs nationally.
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 $22,125 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #53 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $86,760 show a 54% jump from the $56,261 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.