Economics at University of Idaho

The University of Idaho's economics program sits in an unusual position—while peer programs nationwide suggest first-year earnings around $52,000 with debt near $22,000, the only other Idaho program with reported data (Boise State) shows significantly lower starting salaries at $46,000. That $6,000 gap matters when you're weighing whether the Vandals' program delivers better career outcomes than staying closer to home, though without actual graduate data from U of I, you're making an educated guess rather than a confident decision.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 falls within reasonable territory for a bachelor's degree—graduates would theoretically owe less than half their first year's salary. Nationally, economics degrees tend to perform solidly in the job market, with the field's analytical skills translating across finance, consulting, and government sectors. But Idaho's smaller economy and the rural Moscow location could constrain immediate opportunities compared to what the national benchmark implies.

Here's the practical challenge: you're considering a program where both the debt and earnings figures come from national patterns, not Idaho's graduates. If your student plans to leave Idaho after graduation, those national numbers may hold. If they're staying in-state, Boise State's actual outcomes suggest tempering expectations. Without hard data on where U of I economics grads actually land financially, you're betting on the program's reputation and your student's post-graduation mobility.