Program Analysis
Graduates earn $50,518/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 14.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $50,518 far exceeding the $18,017 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
University of California-Santa Cruz ranks #57 among 351 Economics programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The $50,518-to-$88,583 earnings arc over five years reflects a 75% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.