Program Analysis
Missouri State University-Springfield's Economics graduates start at $44,898/yr, trailing the $53,966 national average by 17%. The program's value hinges on affordability.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.1x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,793 in median debt clears quickly against $44,898 in annual earnings.
At #67 of 351 nationally, this is a top-5% Economics program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $83,960 show a 87% jump from the $44,898 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.