Economics at University of San Diego

The estimated $21,500 in debt for a University of San Diego economics degree sits slightly above California's median but well below the national benchmark, while projected first-year earnings align with typical state outcomes around $51,000. This puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.42—meaning graduates from comparable programs could expect to owe less than half their first-year salary, which is generally considered reasonable financial positioning.

What stands out is the trajectory: by year four, earnings jump to nearly $72,000, suggesting economics graduates in this region experience meaningful salary growth early in their careers. That said, USD's program operates in a highly competitive California market where elite institutions produce substantially different outcomes. Stanford economics graduates start at $98,000, and even nearby Santa Clara University shows $76,600 in first-year earnings. These comparisons matter because USD charges private university tuition while producing outcomes that, based on peer programs, track closer to state averages than to top-tier private competitors.

For a family evaluating this investment, the key question is whether the USD experience—smaller classes, networking opportunities, San Diego location—justifies the premium over a UC campus. The estimated debt burden won't be crushing, and economics degrees typically offer decent versatility in the job market. Just understand you're likely paying for institutional qualities beyond pure earnings potential, since the salary outcomes appear in line with the broader California economics graduate pool rather than USD's selective private school peers.