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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #152 of 351

Economicsat Bucknell University

Graduates earn $70,946/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $854K; scenarios range from $713K to $895K depending on AI disruption.

Lewisburg, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
69
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$70,946
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$854K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bucknell University

The strong financial outcomes for Bucknell Economics graduates reflect a powerful combination of factors. As a selective private institution with a strong reputation, Bucknell attracts high-achieving students and employers alike. The program's rigor develops excellent analytical, quantitative, and critical thinking skills, making you highly adaptable to diverse roles. While Lewisburg is a smaller town, Bucknell's extensive and engaged alumni network, particularly across finance, consulting, and tech hubs in major East Coast cities, acts as a crucial pipeline. These networks actively recruit graduates for competitive entry-level roles that quickly lead to management and specialist positions like data science. To maximize this advantage, actively engage with career services and alumni mentorship opportunities from day one, focusing on internships that build practical experience in your target industry.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$713K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$854K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$895K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bucknell University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How Bucknell University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at Bucknell University

Other top programs at Bucknell University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bucknell University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Bucknell University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Bucknell University?

A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Economics field.

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 $713,008 in decade earnings vs $895,432 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.