Economics at Indiana State University

Similar economics programs across Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $58,000—a figure that places this degree solidly in the middle of the state's range and above the national median of $51,700. When paired with estimated debt of $21,300, you're looking at manageable borrowing: graduates would owe roughly 37% of their first year's salary, which is reasonable by most standards.

The challenge is uncertainty. These figures come from peer programs at similar institutions in Indiana, not from Indiana State's own graduates in this major. The school's 92% admission rate and the fact that 39% of students receive Pell grants tells you this serves a different population than Notre Dame or DePauw (where economics grads earn $76,000 and $63,000 respectively). Whether Indiana State's outcomes match the state median—or fall below it—depends entirely on factors we can't see: internship networks, career services effectiveness, and how prepared students are for competitive entry-level roles in finance, consulting, or data analysis.

The debt load appears conservative enough to absorb some downside risk, but without actual graduate outcomes, you're making an investment decision with incomplete information. If your child is choosing Indiana State for economics, dig into placement rates, alumni networks, and whether graduates land jobs that match their degree—not just any job.