Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degree) at Northeastern University Oakland

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$54,064

Est. from CA median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$24,000

Est. from national median (18 programs)

Analysis

A degree from Northeastern's Oakland campus estimated at $24,000 in debt represents a manageable starting point for a Business/Managerial Economics graduate. Based on comparable programs across California, first-year earnings around $54,000 would yield a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44—well within the conventional threshold for reasonable student debt. For context, this aligns with the national median for this field ($53,219) and matches the California state median exactly.

However, these figures come with significant uncertainty since they're derived from peer institutions rather than Northeastern Oakland's actual graduates. The school's 17% admission rate and 1472 average SAT suggest a highly selective environment that could lead to stronger outcomes than the estimates predict. At the same time, top-performing California programs like UCLA ($83,604) and UC Davis ($54,546) demonstrate there's considerable variation in what Business/Managerial Economics degrees deliver, even within the same state. The estimated $18,000 median debt for California programs suggests Northeastern Oakland's projected $24,000 falls on the higher end regionally, though it remains below the $22,250 national median.

The practical reality: you're looking at what appears to be a solid financial foundation if the estimates hold true, but without actual graduate data from this specific campus, you're placing trust in Northeastern's broader reputation and the selectivity of its student body to deliver results that meet or exceed what similar programs produce.

Where Northeastern University Oakland Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Business/Managerial Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (18 total in state)

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Northeastern University OaklandOakland	$63,949	$54,064*	—	$24,000*	—
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles	$13,747	$83,604*	$92,873	$17,332*	0.21
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$66,360*	$70,643	$36,551*	0.55
University of California-DavisDavis	$15,247	$54,546*	$78,081	$13,000*	0.24
Westmont CollegeSanta Barbara	$51,790	$54,457*	$78,938	$25,000*	0.46
Chapman UniversityOrange	$62,784	$54,064*	$75,777	$22,977*	0.42
National Median	—	$53,219*	—	$22,250*	0.42

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/managerial 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

Financial Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information affecting investment programs of public or private institutions.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Management Analysts

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

$101,190/yrJobs growth:Bachelor'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:

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

Financial Specialists, All Other

All financial specialists not listed separately.

Risk Management Specialists

Analyze and manage risk management issues by identifying, measuring, and making decisions on operational or enterprise risks for an organization.

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). 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 9 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.