Economics at Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,636/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #180 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 $629K $615K $550K
Earnings Multiple 11.1x 10.8x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$56,760
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,164
-13% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,632
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,636/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$48,636 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #180 out of 351 programs, Central Michigan University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,636 to $65,632 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 9,916 students in Mount Pleasant, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Michigan 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 Central Michigan 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

How does Central Michigan University's Economics program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Central Michigan University trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →