Business Economics at Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Managerial Economics
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
60
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,333/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (53% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (105,700 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #42 of 81 Business/Managerial Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $922K $868K $739K
Earnings Multiple 4.5x 4.2x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 58% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 60 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$206,864
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$140,784
32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,899
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$100,568
64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Loyola University Chicago's Business Economics graduates start at $61,333/yr — above the $53,330 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 4.2x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,899 in median debt clears quickly against $61,333 in annual earnings.

At #42 out of 81 programs, Loyola University Chicago's financial outcomes for Business Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $61,333 to $100,568 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Loyola University Chicago

A 81% acceptance rate means Loyola University Chicago is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 11,576 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $140,784 over four years represents a 32% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Loyola University Chicago →

Top Career Paths

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
Financial risk specialists $106,000/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Loyola University Chicago

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Loyola University Chicago's Business Economics program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Loyola University Chicago trails the majority of Business Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% 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 →