Economicsat Amherst College
Graduates earn $90,568/yr in their first year — about 68.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,218K; scenarios range from $961K to $1,300K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Amherst College
Amherst's Economics program consistently delivers exceptional outcomes, a testament to its rigorous liberal arts foundation and the college's elite reputation. The curriculum cultivates not just quantitative skills, but also critical thinking, persuasive writing, and complex problem-solving abilities, making you highly adaptable and sought after. You'll find graduates excelling in competitive fields like management consulting at top-tier firms, investment banking in major financial hubs, and increasingly, data analysis roles in tech. The strong alumni network acts as a powerful pipeline to these opportunities, often fast-tracking career progression into management. While some analytical aspects of economics face AI risk, your broad intellectual toolkit from Amherst will be key to pivoting and leading within evolving industries. Leverage this network early and strategically pursue internships that align your analytical strengths with your desired career path.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Amherst College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Economics
How Amherst College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Amherst College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Amherst College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at Amherst College
How does Amherst College's Economics program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Amherst College's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Economics at Amherst College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $269,120, but the average net cost is $72,984 — a 73% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.