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Economics at Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,386/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

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

ROI 3.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #281 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	$882K	$843K	$705K
Earnings Multiple	3.4x	3.2x	2.7x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$262,152

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$175,756

33% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$89,211

92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,386 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,500 in median debt against $46,386 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #281 of 351 Economics programs, Tulane University of Louisiana falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $89,211 show a 92% jump from the $46,386 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Tulane University of Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana admits 15% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, enrolling 7,759 students in New Orleans, LA. The average net cost of $175,756 over four years represents a 33% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Tulane University of Louisiana →

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 Tulane University of Louisiana

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 Tulane University of Louisiana?

This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $704,993 in decade earnings vs $882,359 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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