Economics at The University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas economics graduates start $4,700 below the national median for their field, sitting at the 40th percentile among Texas programs—middle-of-the-pack in a state where peer schools like UT Austin and SMU send graduates into substantially higher-earning positions. By year four, earnings climb to $57,908, nearly matching the national 75th percentile, but that trajectory starts from a notably modest base for a quantitative field at a STEM-focused university.

The debt load of $20,748 offers some cushion, creating a first-year ratio of 0.44 that most graduates can manage even with below-average starting pay. However, the school's relatively high debt percentile (64th) suggests students here borrow more than typical economics majors nationally, even if Texas students generally carry similar burdens. The 23% earnings growth shows the degree does build value over time, likely as graduates move into analyst and data-focused roles.

For families choosing between UT Dallas and UT Austin (where economics graduates earn $58,717 right out of the gate), the $11,000 starting salary gap is significant. UT Dallas works if your student has scholarship offers that substantially reduce borrowing or if they're positioning for graduate school where the initial earnings gap matters less. Otherwise, the program underdelivers for a field that should open doors to finance and tech sectors where Dallas-Fort Worth has substantial opportunities.