Program Analysis
Graduates earn $50,648/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 10.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 12% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $50,648 far exceeding the $19,374 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #182 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Wayne State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 30% earnings increase from $50,648 to $65,866 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.