Economics at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri's economics programs vary dramatically in outcomes, with graduates from top programs earning 60% more than those from bottom-tier options. Missouri S&T's estimated $46,583 first-year salary—derived from the state median across economics programs—places it squarely in the middle. This figure trails Washington University's $66,325 by a significant margin but matches comparable public universities like Mizzou-St. Louis, suggesting graduates enter similar entry-level positions in Missouri's job market.

The estimated debt load of $21,378 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, which is manageable by most standards and slightly better than the national median debt of $22,816 for economics degrees. At this level, typical loan payments would consume roughly 8-10% of gross income—well within the conventional affordability threshold. However, Missouri S&T is primarily known as an engineering and STEM school, not as an economics powerhouse, which raises the question of whether students benefit from the same career services and employer pipelines that draw attention to the university's flagship programs.

The key unknown here is whether Missouri S&T's actual graduates perform better or worse than the state median. Given the school's strong technical reputation and selective student body (average SAT of 1287), there's reason to hope outcomes exceed the estimate. But without confirmed data, families should recognize they're making decisions based on peer program performance, not Missouri S&T's track record. If your child thrives in a tech-oriented environment and plans to leverage that ecosystem, this program could surprise to the upside—but temper expectations until more concrete data emerges.