Economics at Maryville College

Tennessee economics programs show considerable range, with Vanderbilt commanding the high end at $84,000 while UT-Knoxville sits around $46,000. Based on comparable programs across the state, Maryville appears positioned in the middle tier—peer programs suggest first-year earnings near $58,000, placing it alongside schools like The University of the South and Rhodes College rather than among the state's lower performers.

The estimated $19,500 debt load would be notably lighter than Tennessee's typical $20,575 for economics degrees, producing a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34. If these estimates hold, graduates would need roughly four months of gross income to cover their educational debt—a reasonable proposition for a bachelor's degree. That said, the gap between Maryville's likely outcomes and Vanderbilt's is substantial enough to warrant consideration if your child has competitive admissions prospects elsewhere.

The critical unknown here is whether Maryville's actual outcomes align with state peers or fall short. With a 66% admission rate and modest SAT profile, the college serves a different student population than some comparison schools, which could affect career outcomes in ways these estimates don't capture. If your child is choosing between Maryville and a Tennessee public university, request placement data directly from the economics department—where graduates land their first jobs matters as much as the aggregate numbers suggest.