Economics at University of Central Arkansas

UCA's economics program produces first-year earnings of $41,919—well below the $51,722 national median for economics majors, but actually slightly above Arkansas's state median of $41,182. For context, this places graduates around the 60th percentile among Arkansas economics programs, essentially tied with Hendrix College's outcomes. The modest debt load of $19,835 helps offset the below-average earnings, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that's manageable by most standards.

The real question is opportunity cost. Economics majors typically command strong salaries nationally, but this program's graduates earn nearly $10,000 less than the national median in their first year. Whether that gap reflects Arkansas's lower cost of living or represents genuinely weaker outcomes is hard to say with certainty—the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

For Arkansas families keeping their student in-state, this program holds its own against local alternatives without saddling graduates with excessive debt. But students with strong credentials who could access higher-ranked economics programs elsewhere should carefully weigh whether staying close to home is worth potentially leaving significant earnings on the table. The low debt is a real advantage, though it only matters if the degree opens doors to career advancement over time.