Economicsat Wayne State University
Graduates earn $50,648/yr in their first year — about 6.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $612K; scenarios range from $548K to $626K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Wayne State University
Graduates earn $50,648/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 10.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $50,648 far exceeding the $19,374 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #182 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Wayne State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 30% earnings increase from $50,648 to $65,866 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Wayne State University'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 Wayne State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Wayne State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Wayne State University, 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 Wayne State University
What does a 66/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Wayne State University?
At 66/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Wayne State University?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.