Economicsat Colorado College
Graduates earn $58,082/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $748K; scenarios range from $640K to $777K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Colorado College
At $58,082 per year, Economics graduates from Colorado College earn slightly above the $53,966 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $18,628 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #254 of 351 Economics programs, Colorado College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $58,082 to $84,600 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Colorado 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 Colorado College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Colorado College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado 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 Colorado College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Colorado College?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $640,136 in decade earnings vs $776,587 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Colorado College a hidden gem for Economics?
After financial aid, the average student pays $126,712 over four years — 53% below the $271,728 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.