Location: Murfreesboro, TN•In-State Tuition: $9,506•Out-of-State Tuition: $29,042•Admission Rate: 68%•Avg SAT: 1119
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$58,173
Est. from TN median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,650
Est. from national median (183 programs)

Analysis

Based on peer programs in Tennessee, this bachelor's degree in economics suggests first-year earnings around $58,000—a figure that puts MTSU's program right at the state median and notably above the national benchmark of $52,000. While we can't see this specific program's actual outcomes (the graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish), Tennessee's economics programs generally perform well, with the state median exceeding national norms. That said, the range is considerable: Vanderbilt economics grads earn $84,000 while UT-Knoxville grads start closer to $46,000, showing how much variation exists even within the same state and field.

The estimated $21,650 in debt falls just below typical borrowing for economics degrees nationally. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, similar programs suggest graduates could potentially pay off their loans within six months of gross earnings—a manageable burden by most standards. Economics typically offers more financial flexibility than many liberal arts degrees, though much depends on whether graduates pursue roles in finance, data analysis, or other quantitative fields versus lower-paying positions.

The real challenge here is uncertainty. Without actual graduate outcomes for MTSU's specific program, you're making an educated guess based on how peer schools perform. If your student is comparing offers, prioritize schools with reported data wherever possible—those numbers tell you what actually happened to real graduates, not what similar programs suggest might happen.

Where Middle Tennessee State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Middle Tennessee State University (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro$9,506$58,173*—$21,650*—
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$63,946$84,311*$104,258$12,424*0.15
The University of the SouthSewanee$53,698$58,532*$65,318$24,798*0.42
Rhodes CollegeMemphis$54,892$57,814*—$19,500*0.34
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville$13,484$46,302*$65,281$21,650*0.47
National Median—$51,722*—$22,816*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Middle Tennessee State University, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.