Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $80,446 put University of California-Berkeley's Economics program 49% above the national median of $53,966 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.4x 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 24% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $80,446 far exceeding the $12,650 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #1 of 351 Economics programs nationally, University of California-Berkeley sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $125,636 show a 56% jump from the $80,446 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.