Program Analysis
Utah State University's Economics graduates start at $60,472/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.
With a 20.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,245 in median debt clears quickly against $60,472 in annual earnings.
Utah State University ranks #10 among 351 Economics programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 46% earnings increase from $60,472 to $88,162 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.