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Economics at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,462/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #142 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

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 $667K $649K $573K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.6x 11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,584
Out-of-state: $135,004 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,328
-58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,679
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Economics program produces graduates earning $48,462/yr — within striking distance of the $53,966 national average for this field.

The 12.6x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $48,462 in annual earnings.

Ranked #142 out of 351 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,462 to $69,679 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

A 90% acceptance rate means Colorado State University-Fort Collins is accessible to most applicants, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,856) Construction Engineering Technologies ($78,423) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,038) Civil Engineering ($73,326) Information Science/Studies ($67,827) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($66,109) Chemical Engineering ($62,468) Mechanical Engineering ($60,720)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Economics program score?
This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Economics graduates.
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 →