Economicsat Bowdoin College
Graduates earn $75,867/yr in their first year — about 41.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,019K; scenarios range from $825K to $1,078K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin’s Economics program, rooted in a top-tier liberal arts education, equips you with a robust analytical toolkit highly valued across competitive sectors. Your success isn't just about the curriculum; it's heavily influenced by the college's strong reputation and extensive alumni network, which actively recruits graduates into elite opportunities. You'll find graduates frequently recruited into investment banking, management consulting, and tech data roles, often heading to major hubs like Boston or New York where the alumni network is particularly strong, far beyond Brunswick’s local economy.
While many of the analytical and data-driven roles popular with economics graduates face significant AI disruption, this isn't a deterrent but rather a call for strategic preparation. The very skills that make economists valuable—modeling, forecasting, data interpretation—are also areas where AI tools are rapidly advancing. To thrive, actively pursue internships that integrate data science or advanced analytics, and consider supplementing your coursework with programming languages like Python or R to leverage, rather than be replaced by, AI advancements in your field.
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 Bowdoin 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 Bowdoin College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Bowdoin College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bowdoin 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 Bowdoin College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Bowdoin College?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $825,246 in decade earnings vs $1,078,481 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Bowdoin College's Economics program stand out?
Ranked #79 of 351 programs nationally, Bowdoin College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Bowdoin College a hidden gem for Economics?
After financial aid, the average student pays $83,144 over four years — 68% below the $259,640 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.