Location: Orlando, FL•In-State Tuition: $6,368•Out-of-State Tuition: $22,467•Admission Rate: 40%•Avg SAT: 1277
Median Earnings (1yr)
$47,743
34th percentile
60th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$25,750
13% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.54 ManageableSample: 29 graduates Limited data

Analysis

UCF economics graduates earn just above Florida's median at $47,743, placing them in the 60th percentile statewide—ahead of programs at FSU and Florida Gulf Coast, though trailing Tampa and FAU. However, this sits well below the national median of $51,722, suggesting stronger programs exist beyond Florida for economics majors.

The debt picture looks better than earnings might suggest. At $25,750, it's manageable relative to first-year income (54% debt-to-earnings ratio), and actually sits in the 21st percentile nationally for debt burden—meaning 79% of economics programs saddle graduates with more debt. For a state university education, this represents reasonable borrowing, particularly given UCF's accessibility (40% admission rate, 33% Pell grant recipients).

The caveat here is significant: with fewer than 30 graduates in this sample, one or two outliers could skew these numbers considerably. If your child is serious about economics and UCF, the safer bet may be treating these figures as approximate rather than definitive. That said, the combination of below-median debt and solid in-state performance suggests UCF delivers adequate preparation without overcharging. Just know that economics majors at peer institutions—especially outside Florida—are typically earning $4,000-$7,000 more in their first year.

Where University of Central Florida Stands

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

University of Central FloridaOther economics programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Central Florida graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Central Florida earns $48k — 34th percentile among economics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Central FloridaOrlando$6,368$47,743—$25,7500.54
The University of TampaTampa$33,424$54,284—$27,0000.50
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton$4,879$48,632$56,091$25,1110.52
University of South FloridaTampa$6,410$47,351$54,558$22,9250.48
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers$6,118$47,344—$12,7540.27
Florida State UniversityTallahassee$5,656$47,304$61,738$17,6250.37
National Median—$51,722—$22,8160.44

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 University of Central Florida, 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.

Sample Size: Based on 29 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.