U.S. median for this major: $79,489.
College Scorecard field of study; 44 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 28% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,907.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $71,986. College Scorecard.
The University of the South Economics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Economics nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses The University of the South's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,485 | $43,198 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,704 | $44,100 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $17,746 | $73,114 | 1.4 years |
| $75–110k | $22,563 | $92,960 | 1.7 years |
| $110k+ | $38,762 | $159,699 | 3.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (74% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Economics graduates 4 years after graduating ($87,762) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $53,244 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Economics at Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee college we cover that reports Economics graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt University | $140,337 | $12,424 | $15,846 | 94% |
| 2 | The University of the South | $87,762 | $24,798 | $27,872 | 80% |
| 3 | Rhodes College | $82,950 | $19,500 | $28,585 | 85% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $67,902 | $21,650 | $18,976 | 74% |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee State University | $42,701 | — | $13,359 | 54% |
10 more Tennessee colleges offer Economics but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Economics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at The University of the South, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About The University of the South
- Acceptance rate: 57% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 80% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $64,911
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at The University of the South
- Finance—
The University of the South Economics questions
How much do The University of the South Economics graduates earn?
Economics graduates of The University of the South earn a median $87,762 four years after graduating and $58,532 one year after. The U.S. median for Economics graduates across 368 colleges is $79,489.
How much debt do The University of the South Economics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Economics graduates of The University of the South is $24,798, about 28% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,907.
Is The University of the South a good school for Economics in Tennessee?
On pay, Economics graduates of The University of the South earn $87,762 four years out, $4,812 above the median for the same major across 5 Tennessee colleges ($82,950) and $8,273 above the U.S. median ($79,489). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does The University of the South rank for Economics in Tennessee?
Of 5 Tennessee colleges reporting Economics graduate earnings, The University of the South ranks 2nd. The highest is Vanderbilt University at $140,337.
What jobs do Economics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,860 in Tennessee and $72,040 nationally. Others include market research analysts and marketing specialists and data scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “The University of the South Economics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/the-university-of-the-south/majors/economics (College Scorecard and BLS data).