Economics at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The national median for economics bachelor's programs suggests first-year earnings around $52,000, but Arkansas tells a different story. The state's other economics programs typically produce starting salaries closer to $41,000—about $10,000 less than the national figure. Without school-specific data for UALR, parents should recognize this program could land anywhere in that range, and the state's track record leans toward the lower end.

The estimated debt load of $21,650 looks manageable at national earnings levels (a 0.42 ratio is reasonable), but it becomes tighter if actual outcomes align more closely with Arkansas norms. At $41,000—what peer programs in the state actually report—that same debt represents more than half a year's gross salary, leaving less cushion for new graduates navigating rent, car payments, and other expenses in their first job.

The fundamental question is whether UALR's program performs like a typical Arkansas economics program or beats the state average. Given the school's 58% admission rate and solid access mission (41% Pell recipients), betting on significantly above-state outcomes requires evidence this analysis can't provide. If your student is committed to economics, push the career services office for alumni employment data and typical first-job placements—knowing where recent graduates actually landed will matter more than these estimates.