WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-23% vs national median99 grads tracked

Economics at Western Illinois University

Ranked 201st of 225 bachelor's programs in Economics by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,998
middle 50%: $26,371 – $53,506
Median · 5 years out
$60,961
middle 50%: $44,891 – $77,901
Median · 10 years out
$85,242
middle 50%: $60,272 – $110,315

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Economics (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Economics earn a median $39,998 one year after graduating, rising to $85,242 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 23% below the national median of $79,200 for this field, ranking 201st of 225 reporting programs.

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
6.9 yrs
≈ $8,165 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
Western Colorado University
$61,737 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$61,703 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$61,518 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$61,332 · 5 yrs out
Southern Oregon University
$61,121 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$60,815 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
$60,679 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Missouri
$60,590 · 5 yrs out
Northern State University
$60,442 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$60,121 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$59,848 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

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