Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Federal field 4506

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$11,749 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 14.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $78,588 / year
10-year scenario: +59% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+73%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$57,060 → $98,555

130Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

114Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

154Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

153Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$29,763Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,740

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$14,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$94,435

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$148/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,740Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$90,300Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE9.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE91.8%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$57,060Year 1

$94,435Year 4

$98,555Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

1.9% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$7,870

Estimated loan payment$148

153borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$94,435 vs. $82,686

$11,749 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$174,560 median wageCA estimate · 99,580 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$137,360 median wageCA estimate · 770 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$119,410 median wageCA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$60,250 median wageCA estimate · 5,300 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$83,520 median wageCA estimate · 1,180 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$141,590 median wageCA estimate · 39,310 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeStatisticians$135,960 median wageCA estimate · 2,480 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$94,700 median wageCA estimate · 119,070 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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