Bachelor's+13% vs national median3,007 grads tracked
Economics at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 25th of 225 bachelor's programs in Economics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$58,759
middle 50%: $40,822 – $74,522
Median · 5 years out
$89,845
middle 50%: $67,620 – $118,217
Median · 10 years out
$128,272
middle 50%: $89,524 – $185,646
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Economics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Economics majors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign start with a $59k median salary. This increases to $90k at five years and $128k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
4.8 yrs
≈ $5,442 total interest
Same major at other universities
Furman University
$92,861 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$90,951 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$90,485 · 5 yrs out
Butler University
$90,454 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$90,168 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$89,916 · 5 yrs out
Gustavus Adolphus College
$89,177 · 5 yrs out
Franklin College of Indiana
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$88,180 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater College
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Hollins University
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$87,648 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out