Economics at Indiana University-South Bend

Similar economics programs in Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $58,000—a solid number that sits right at the state median and notably above the national benchmark of $51,700. The estimated debt load of $21,300 translates to a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe about four and a half months of their first-year salary. This compares favorably to the national median debt of $22,800 for economics degrees.

The challenge is that these figures come from peer programs across Indiana, not IU-South Bend's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty in how this specific program performs. The school serves a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients (41%), which often correlates with students who need their degree to deliver strong economic returns. Comparable programs at IU-Bloomington and Purdue produce similar earnings in the $59,000 range, while Notre Dame's economics grads earn significantly more at $76,000—though the latter involves a much different student profile and cost structure.

If these estimates hold true, the program would offer reasonable value: Indiana economics degrees generally produce decent starting salaries without crushing debt. However, the lack of actual outcome data makes it difficult to know whether IU-South Bend's graduates match their peers' performance. Before committing, press the financial aid office for any graduate outcome information they track internally, even if it hasn't been published.