Location: Edwardsville, IL•In-State Tuition: $12,922•Admission Rate: 97%•Avg SAT: 1063
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,048
Est. from IL median (15 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from IL median (5 programs)

Analysis

Economics programs in Illinois show remarkable variation, with top programs producing first-year earnings exceeding $90,000 while the state median sits at $47,048. Similar bachelor's programs in Illinois suggest SIUE graduates can expect around $47,000 initially—right at the state median but about $4,700 below the national benchmark for economics degrees. That gap matters when considering whether this highly accessible program (97% admission rate) delivers typical economics degree returns.

The estimated $25,000 debt load, derived from comparable Illinois programs at similar institutions, creates a manageable 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio. Peer programs nationally carry slightly less debt (median $22,816), but the difference is modest enough that repayment shouldn't prove overwhelming on a mid-$40,000 salary. What's less certain is whether economics graduates from SIUE command the same salary trajectory as those from Illinois flagship institutions, where reported first-year earnings run 25% higher.

The real question is whether SIUE's economics program provides the analytical skills and recruiting connections that justify a bachelor's degree in this field. With insufficient graduate numbers to generate actual outcome data, you're betting on a program that hasn't demonstrated—at least not publicly—the placement success of stronger Illinois economics departments. If your student has admission options at UIUC or other schools with proven economics outcomes, those merit serious consideration despite potentially higher costs.

Where Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Stands

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

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (35 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville$12,922$47,048*—$25,000*—
University of ChicagoChicago$66,939$92,075*$127,832$13,197*0.14
Northwestern UniversityEvanston$65,997$84,932*$105,795$16,227*0.19
Wheaton CollegeWheaton$43,930$62,889*$60,894$21,000*0.33
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$58,921*$75,600$21,228*0.36
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais$37,940$54,169*—$27,000*0.50
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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, approximately 32% 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 15 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.