Economics at University of Memphis

Economics degrees in Tennessee vary dramatically, from Vanderbilt's $84,000 first-year outcomes to UTK's $46,000. Memphis falls somewhere in the middle based on what comparable programs in the state suggest—estimated first-year earnings around $58,000 put this program right at Tennessee's median for economics bachelor's degrees, though above the national benchmark of $52,000.

The estimated debt load of $22,000 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, meaning graduates would likely owe about four and a half months of their first year's salary. That's a manageable burden if the earnings estimates hold true for Memphis specifically. Economics programs at similar public institutions in Tennessee carry comparable debt loads (around $20,600 at the state median), so the estimated borrowing here isn't unusual for the market.

The real question is whether Memphis's specific outcomes align with these state-level estimates. With a 93% admission rate and students testing below 1100 on the SAT, the university serves a different population than Vanderbilt or Rhodes—but also likely attracts different employers and alumni networks than UTK. The earnings gap between Tennessee's top and bottom economics programs is nearly $38,000, which means the actual trajectory for Memphis graduates could vary significantly from these peer-program estimates. If your student is considering this program, direct conversations with recent alumni about their actual job placements would provide far more reliable planning information than these statewide averages can offer.