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Economics at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $51,344/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

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

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #71 of 351 Economics programs Top 25%

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	$645K	$630K	$560K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	17.0x	15.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.7x	8.5x	7.6x
Probability of Field Employment	66%	60%	41%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,108

Out-of-state: $74,064 (8.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,792

-83% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,875

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,243

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $51,344/yr, Economics graduates from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 17.0x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $21,875 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #71 out of 351 programs, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $51,344 to $68,243 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

With 76% of applicants admitted, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire prioritizes broad access, serving 8,995 students in Eau Claire, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire →

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 Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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

How does University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics program score?

A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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.

Why does University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire rank so high for Economics?

The #71 ranking out of 351 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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