Outlook and Resources

Economics is more than numbers and data—it's the study of how people and societies make decisions, allocate resources and respond to incentives. At NIU, we emphasize analytical thinking and real-world applications to prepare you to address some of today's most urgent challenges.

Our graduate programs allow you to specialize in areas such as labor, public, financial economics or econometrics. Students focusing on econometrics may also earn an M.S. in statistics while pursuing a Ph.D. in economics. Both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs are STEM-designated, which provides additional benefits for international students. We work across disciplines through the School of Public and Global Affairs and collaborate with organizations such as the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy.

Employment Outlook

Economics majors hold diverse job titles including market analyst, real estate agent, urban planner, policy analyst, business forecaster, research assistant and statistician. These roles all rely on the analytical skills developed through the study of economics.

Our graduates work in financial services, insurance, marketing, government and public policy, among other fields. Many go on to earn advanced degrees in economics, which lead to opportunities in teaching, research and leadership.

Undergraduate Degree in Economics

Bachelor of Arts

Our B.A. graduates developstrong analytical, problem solving and communications skills, which opens the door to a wide range of careers in government, law, public policy and many more.

Bachelor of Science

Our B.S. graduates develop some of the same skills as our B.A. graduates, but have options to study financial economics or to enroll in our accelerated M.A. program. The Bachelor of Science opens the doors to graduate school, but also careers in finance, data and market analytics, government, public policy and many more.

8% Projected growth through 2032 | Top 15% earners of all undergraduate degrees
(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Graduate Degree in Economics

Our program prepares you for the demands of employers and graduate programs. With a strong focus on analytics, model building and data analysis tools (including programming in R, Python and Julia), you will be ready to embark on careers in academia, government and the private sector.

24% Projected growth through 2032 | 15% faster wage growth over five years
(Source: Lightcast)

Resources for Economics Majors

Contact Us

Department of Economics
Zulauf Hall 515
815-753-1031
815-752-1019 (fax)

Office Hours

By appointment only