Bachelor's-13% vs national median620 grads tracked
Economics at Portland State University
Ranked 139th of 225 bachelor's programs in Economics by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,867
middle 50%: $31,645 – $58,574
Median · 5 years out
$69,221
middle 50%: $49,929 – $93,284
Median · 10 years out
$95,012
middle 50%: $63,610 – $130,341
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Economics (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Portland State University economics majors earn a median of $44k in their first year. Ten-year median compensation reaches $95k.
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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,265 total interest
Same major at other universities
Bowling Green State University
$70,606 · 5 yrs out
Longwood University
$70,599 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Farmingdale
$70,135 · 5 yrs out
Illinois State University
$69,907 · 5 yrs out
Monmouth College
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Salem State University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Bemidji State University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
University of South Dakota
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
$68,957 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$68,802 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Portland State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$189,860 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$158,313 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$130,437 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$126,846 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$123,233 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$122,667 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$120,677 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$116,662 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,474 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,147 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$110,977 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$105,672 · 5 yrs out