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Economics at Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,889/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #295 of 351 Economics programs

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 $645K $629K $559K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.6x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,936
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$60,894
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Wheaton College's Economics graduates start at $62,889/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,000 in median debt clears quickly against $62,889 in annual earnings.

Ranked #295 of 351 Economics programs, Wheaton College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Wheaton College

A 90% acceptance rate means Wheaton College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 2,087 in Wheaton, IL. The average net cost of $107,936 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wheaton College →

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

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at Wheaton College

Computer Science ($81,470) Business/Managerial Economics ($55,300) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,714) Political Science and Government ($45,069) International Relations and National Security Studies ($40,084) Communication and Media Studies ($39,321) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($37,025) English Language and Literature, General ($32,723)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Wheaton College?
This program scores 56/100 — 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 $559,186 in decade earnings vs $644,563 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →