Business Economics at Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Managerial Economics
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
56
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $54,457/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #57 of 81 Business/Managerial Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $833K $789K $682K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.8x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 58% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 56 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$207,160
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$131,704
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,820
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,457 track close to the $53,330 national median for Business Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Economics's typical career paths, with 53% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

At $25,000 in median debt against $54,457 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #57 of 81 Business Economics programs, Westmont College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $88,820 show a 63% jump from the $54,457 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Westmont College

Westmont College has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,310 students in Santa Barbara, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,704 over four years — 36% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Westmont College →

Top Career Paths

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Westmont College

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 Business Economics at Westmont College?
This program scores 56/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business Economics careers?
With 53% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $681,932 in decade earnings vs $832,658 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →