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Economics at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,762/yr (-26% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 17.4x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #177 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

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	$949K	$903K	$746K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.3x	17.4x	14.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.2x	7.8x	6.4x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (7.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,097

127% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Washington State University's Economics graduates start at $39,762/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 26%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.4x 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 21% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,762 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #177 of 351 Economics programs, Washington State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $90,097 show a 127% jump from the $39,762 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Washington State University

A 85% acceptance rate means Washington State University is accessible to most applicants, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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 Washington State 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 Economics at Washington State University?

This program scores 67/100 — 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 $746,077 in decade earnings vs $949,364 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Economics from Washington State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →