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Economics at University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,153/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

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

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #323 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	$663K	$646K	$571K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.7x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$239,600

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$155,680

35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,500

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$69,224

44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,153/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $48,153 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #323 of 351 Economics programs, University of Puget Sound falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $48,153 to $69,224 over five years — a 44% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Puget Sound

University of Puget Sound accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,631 in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $155,680 — 35% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Puget Sound →

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 Puget Sound

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at University of Puget Sound?

This program scores 52/100 — 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 $570,718 in decade earnings vs $663,371 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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