Location: Birmingham, AL•In-State Tuition: $8,832•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,864•Admission Rate: 88%•Avg SAT: 1251
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$53,219
Est. from national median (81 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,125
Est. from national median (58 programs)

Analysis

Comparable Business/Managerial Economics programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $53,000 with typical debt near $21,000—a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio that puts borrowers in a reasonable position to handle repayment. However, UAB's estimates trail slightly behind what similar programs in Alabama deliver. The University of Alabama reports actual outcomes of $55,550 for its Business/Managerial Economics graduates, about $2,300 higher than the national benchmark UAB's estimates are derived from.

The accessibility factor here matters. With an 88% admission rate and a third of students on Pell grants, UAB serves a different population than many business programs, making the estimated debt load particularly important to scrutinize. At $21,000, graduates would face monthly payments around $220 on a standard 10-year plan—feasible but tight on a $53,000 salary, especially in the first years out of school when expenses often run high and raises haven't materialized yet.

Since these figures are drawn from peer programs rather than UAB's actual track record, ask the financial aid office what percentage of Business/Managerial Economics students actually borrow and what their typical debt looks like. If UAB can match the Alabama median of $55,550 in earnings, the picture improves considerably; if graduates earn less while carrying similar debt, repayment becomes more stressful than these estimates suggest.

Where University of Alabama at Birmingham Stands

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

University of Alabama at Birmingham (estimated ±10%)Other business/managerial economics programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Business/Managerial Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (9 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham$8,832$53,219*—$21,125*—
The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa$11,900$55,550*$85,603$21,675*0.39
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 Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$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
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 University of Alabama at Birmingham, approximately 33% 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 national median of 81 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.