Economics at University of Southern California

USC's economics program delivers strong earnings growth with remarkably low debt—a combination that should appeal to value-conscious families willing to invest in a selective program. At $14,000, graduates carry nearly 40% less debt than the California median and far below the national average, while first-year earnings of $57,060 already exceed both state and national benchmarks. The 34% earnings jump to $76,486 by year four suggests graduates are successfully leveraging USC's network and Los Angeles job market.

Within California, this program sits squarely in the middle tier among economics programs—ahead of most state schools but trailing the elite private competition like Stanford, Claremont McKenna, and even UC Berkeley. The 60th percentile state ranking reflects USC's position as a strong but not top-tier economics program in a highly competitive state. For families facing USC's substantial tuition costs, the real question is whether the network advantages justify paying significantly more than UC alternatives when the earnings outcomes are comparable.

The math works if your child graduates with debt near this $14,000 median, which represents just three months of first-year salary. But remember: USC's sticker price is steep, and this low debt figure likely reflects significant family contributions. If your student would need to borrow substantially more, the value calculation changes. This program makes financial sense for families who can afford most of USC's cost out of pocket.