Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $33,742/yr fall 37% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.6x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $20,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,742 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #290 of 351 Economics programs, Appalachian State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $66,181 show a 96% jump from the $33,742 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.