HUMANITIES Specialization

Economics and Computer Science

Economics and Computer Science graduates pursue 6 occupations, with top roles paying $175,140/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

About Economics and Computer Science

This page covers Economics and Computer Science as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Economics and Computer Science is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. You will not have trouble finding it: 6 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 89 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.


Colleges Offering
6
Graduates / Year
89
Avg Net Price / yr
$23,524

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 89 students who complete Economics and Computer Science programs each year, the majority (66%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Bachelor's 66%
Master's 34%

What Can You Do With an Economics and Computer Science Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Economics and Computer Science graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Computer & Information Systems Manager pays the most at $175,140/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Computer & Information Systems Manager earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +15.8% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$175,140
$138K $221K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 53,500 openings/yr 671K employed nationally
Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking Monitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

  • Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
  • Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
  • Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
↗ +10.2% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$135,980
$105K $172K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 95,300 openings/yr 1.7M employed nationally
Programming Critical Thinking Judgment and Decision Making Reading Comprehension Active Learning
Day-to-day responsibilities

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

  • Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.
  • Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.
  • Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.
↗ +4.7% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$124,720
$89K $175K 25th–75th pct.
Master's degree 1,100 openings/yr 18K employed nationally
Critical Thinking Mathematics Reading Comprehension Writing Critical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

  • Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
  • Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
  • Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
↗ +2.4% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$123,920
$87K $169K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,000 openings/yr 12K employed nationally
Speaking Instructing Writing Reading Comprehension Active Listening
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as econometrics, price theory, and macroeconomics.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
↗ +34.6% Zone 4: Considerable preparation
$120,230
$86K $159K 25th–75th pct.
Bachelor's degree 24,800 openings/yr 262K employed nationally
Critical Thinking Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking
Day-to-day responsibilities

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

  • Generate standard or custom reports summarizing business, financial, or economic data for review by executives, managers, clients, and other stakeholders.
  • Maintain or update business intelligence tools, databases, dashboards, systems, or methods.
  • Manage timely flow of business intelligence information to users.
↗ +4.9% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$96,980
$67K $131K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 3,200 openings/yr 35K employed nationally
Instructing Reading Comprehension Writing Speaking Active Learning
Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as programming, data structures, and software design.

Top Colleges for Economics and Computer Science

Only 4 colleges had enough verified data to appear here for Economics and Computer Science. They are sorted by graduate volume, not selectivity, so use them as a starting point rather than a ranking.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA · Nonprofit 50 4.6% $20,111 $143,372
2 Duke University Durham, NC · Nonprofit 27 5.7% $29,612 $97,800
3 Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO · Nonprofit 9 12.1% $21,786 $86,182
4 Emory University Atlanta, GA · Nonprofit 3 10.7% $22,585 $80,137

Ranked by Economics and Computer Science graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Economics and Computer Science program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Economics and Computer Science Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Economics and Computer Science shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Fast-growing field Related careers are projected to grow up to +34.6% over the next decade, with Data Scientist among the fastest-growing roles.
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 178,900 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
  • Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
  • Limited program availability Only 6 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.

Economics and Computer Science Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with an Economics and Computer Science degree?
Computer & Information Systems Manager is one path, and it pays a median of $175,140 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does an Economics and Computer Science program take?
Four years of full-time study for an Economics and Computer Science bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Economics and Computer Science?
6 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
What is the difference between Economics and Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Economics and Computer Science is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Economics and Computer Science-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Economics and Computer Science graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Economics and Computer Science graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Economics and Computer Science graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +12.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Data Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +34.6%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.

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