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Economics at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,404/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 24.5x earnings multiple (11.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #38 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 $846K $810K $683K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.6x 24.5x 20.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.3x 9.5x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,000
Out-of-state: $71,664 (11.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,140
-79% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,750
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,030
85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,404 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 24.5x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,750 in median debt against $46,404 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #38 out of 351 programs, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $46,404 to $86,030 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 9,180 students in Whitewater, WI.

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

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

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($70,016) Accounting and Related Services ($61,926) Finance and Financial Management Services ($55,874) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($55,477) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($52,995) Human Resources Management and Services ($52,071) Mathematics ($50,285) Business/Commerce, General ($49,965)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Economics program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater'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-Whitewater rank so high for Economics?
The #38 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 →