Economics at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's economics program produces graduates earning $37,798 their first year out—roughly $13,000 below the Illinois state median and nearly $14,000 below the national average for economics majors. While the debt load of $25,049 sits right at the state average, that becomes problematic when paired with below-average earnings. This program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Illinois economics programs, placing it well behind state options like U of I Urbana-Champaign ($58,921) or even Olivet Nazarene ($54,169).

The 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but economics graduates typically enter fields where stronger starting salaries help justify the investment. At less than $38,000, these graduates face tighter budgets for loan repayment than peers at other Illinois schools. The high admission rate (90%) and modest SAT scores suggest this serves students who may not access more selective programs, but the earning outcomes don't offset that accessibility advantage.

The small sample size here matters—these numbers could shift significantly year to year. However, consistently ranking in the bottom quarter among Illinois economics programs is concerning. If your child is set on SIUC for financial or personal reasons, they should understand they're likely trading earning potential for other factors. For a straightforward economics degree focused on financial returns, Illinois offers multiple programs with substantially stronger outcomes.