Economics at University of Southern Indiana

The economics bachelor's at University of Southern Indiana positions students for solid financial outcomes, with estimated first-year earnings of $57,962 and manageable debt of $21,277. While these figures come from peer programs rather than USI's own graduates, they paint a notably positive picture: that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 means graduates would need less than five months of their first year's salary to cover what they borrowed—a comfortable margin by any standard.

What makes this particularly interesting is how USI compares within Indiana's competitive economics landscape. The estimated earnings match the state median exactly and sit just below flagship programs like Purdue ($59,187) and IU-Bloomington ($59,142), while the estimated debt runs about $2,100 lower than the typical Indiana economics program. For a school with a 95% admission rate serving a regional population, these projections suggest strong value. The earnings also clear the national median for economics programs by over $6,000.

The key uncertainty here is obvious: with no actual graduate data available, you're betting on USI's ability to match what similar Indiana economics programs deliver. Given the school's accessibility and the field's generally strong employment prospects, that's likely a safe bet—but recognize you're making an inference rather than evaluating a proven track record. If your child thrives in smaller settings and wants to stay in the Midwest, the estimated economics here suggest solid ROI potential.