Economics at Eastern Oregon University

Economics programs in Oregon show a wide earnings spread, with first-year salaries ranging from about $46,000 at most institutions to over $53,000 at Reed College. Eastern Oregon's economics degree, drawing on data from peer programs across the state, sits at the lower end of this range—roughly $46,000 in first-year earnings against an estimated $23,800 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 is reasonable but not impressive, especially when the program trails the national economics median by nearly $6,000 annually.

The challenge here is that economics degrees typically command stronger starting salaries—the national benchmark sits above $51,700—and Eastern Oregon's 99% admission rate and rural location may limit access to the competitive finance and consulting roles that drive higher outcomes elsewhere. Similar programs in Oregon suggest graduates find work, but not necessarily at the salary levels that make economics degrees particularly attractive compared to other business-adjacent fields.

For a family weighing this investment, the estimated debt load is manageable but the earnings potential appears modest. If your student is committed to economics and values Eastern Oregon's smaller setting and lower costs, the numbers work. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, programs at Portland State or the University of Oregon—with similar estimated starting salaries but better proximity to job markets—might offer more upside. The limited graduate data here also means you're making decisions with less certainty than you'd have at larger programs.