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Economics at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $59,187/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

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

ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #16 of 351 Economics programs Top 5%

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	$742K	$717K	$619K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.6x	17.9x	15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.4x	6.2x	5.4x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	79	78	74

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,968

Out-of-state: $115,176 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,780

-40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,099

4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,285

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $59,187/yr, edging above the $53,966 national average for Economics — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.9x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $23,099 in median debt against $59,187 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #16 out of 351 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $59,187 to $81,285 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

With a 50% acceptance rate, Purdue University-Main Campus is moderately selective, with 39,637 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

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

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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 Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University-Main Campus's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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 does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Economics?

The #16 ranking out of 351 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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