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Economics at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,015/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)

ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #219 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	$703K	$682K	$595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	10.6x	9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.3x	6.1x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,084

Out-of-state: $112,344 (6.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$71,687

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,015 per year, Economics graduates from Illinois State University earn below the $53,966 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 10.6x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #219 out of 351 programs, Illinois State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $44,015 to $71,687 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Illinois State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Illinois State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 18,414 in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State 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 Illinois State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

How does Illinois State University's Economics program score?

A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Illinois State 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.

Why are Economics earnings lower at Illinois State University?

Lower starting pay at Illinois State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →