Economics bachelor's degree outcomes at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$15,926 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 38.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $9,400 / year
10-year scenario: −7% · Negative 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.

+53%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$45,386 → $69,275

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

66Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

78Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

38Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

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

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,391

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

02 · BORROWING$25,879

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$66,760

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$274/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,391Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$28,851Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE69.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE48.7%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.

$45,386Year 1

$66,760Year 4

$69,275Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.9% 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$5,563

Estimated loan payment$274

38borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$66,760 vs. $82,686

$15,926 below 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$140,240 median wageIL estimate · 31,680 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$124,850 median wageIL estimate · 460 jobs · 25-1063+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$124,720 median wageU.S. estimate · 17,790 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$64,890 median wageIL estimate · 250 jobs · 19-4061+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$54,080 median wageIL estimate · 320 jobs · 19-3022-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$119,760 median wageIL estimate · 480 jobs · 15-2041+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$106,560 median wageIL estimate · 10,520 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,990 median wageIL estimate · 44,670 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$79,120 median wageIL estimate · 40,560 jobs · 13-1161+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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