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Economics at Southern Utah University

Cedar City, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,266/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 18.3x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #277 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 $495K $495K $467K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 18.3x 17.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 6.0x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,080
Out-of-state: $82,344 (6.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,728
-69% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $43,266/yr fall 20% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 18.3x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #277 out of 351 programs, Southern Utah University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 9,533 in Cedar City, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Utah 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

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 Southern Utah University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,898) Accounting and Related Services ($55,425) Computer Science ($49,655) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,832) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,042) Engineering Technology, General ($43,320) Agriculture, General ($41,071) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($39,744)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Southern Utah University's Economics program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Utah 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 Southern Utah University?
Lower starting pay at Southern Utah 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 →