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Economics at The University of the South

Sewanee, TN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $58,532/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #251 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 $713K $691K $601K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$214,792
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$109,992
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,878
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of the South's Economics graduates start at $58,532/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.2x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,250 in median debt clears quickly against $58,532 in annual earnings.

At #251 out of 351 programs, The University of the South's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $58,532 to $77,878 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of the South

The University of the South's 51% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a compact campus enrolling 1,598 students in Sewanee, TN. The average net cost of $109,992 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of the South →

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 The University of the South

International/Global Studies ($42,390) Psychology, General ($35,379) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($35,204) Political Science and Government ($31,831) English Language and Literature, General ($31,218) Biology, General ($23,932)

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 The University of the South's Economics program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The University of the South 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →