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Economics at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,302/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

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

ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #156 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

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	$700K	$679K	$593K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.0x	12.6x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.5x	5.3x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	69	68	65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$53,936

Out-of-state: $127,896 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,436

-34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,750

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$72,348

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,302 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.6x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $20,750 in median debt against $46,302 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #156 of 351 Economics programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $72,348 show a 56% jump from the $46,302 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

With a 46% acceptance rate, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is moderately selective, with 28,763 students enrolled in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Economics field.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $593,418 in decade earnings vs $700,390 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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