Economics at University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,743/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 20.6x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #202 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 $529K $525K $488K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.8x 20.6x 19.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.8x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$25,472
Out-of-state: $89,868 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,600
-67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $47,743/yr, Economics graduates from University of Central Florida land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $18,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #202 out of 351 programs, University of Central Florida's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About University of Central Florida

A 40% acceptance rate puts University of Central Florida in competitive admissions territory, one of the larger campuses at 59,095 students in Orlando, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Central Florida →

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 University of Central Florida

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Central Florida's Economics program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Central Florida 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 →