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Economics at CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,580/yr (-36% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 27.3x earnings multiple (13.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #248 of 351 Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $842K $806K $680K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 28.5x 27.3x 23.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 13.7x 13.1x 11.1x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,528
Out-of-state: $61,328 (13.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$9,784
67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,101
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,945
125% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $34,580/yr fall 36% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 27.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $10,101 in median debt against $34,580 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #248 out of 351 programs, CUNY Hunter College's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $34,580 to $77,945 over five years (125% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About CUNY Hunter College

With a 54% acceptance rate, CUNY Hunter College is moderately selective, enrolling 16,642 students in New York, NY. With 55% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $9,784 over four years — 67% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Hunter College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at CUNY Hunter College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,692) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($86,173) Computer Science ($76,747) Accounting and Related Services ($54,617) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($49,245) Mathematics ($48,918) Public Health ($47,444) Social Work ($42,227)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CUNY Hunter College's Economics program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but CUNY Hunter College trails the majority of Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Why are Economics earnings lower at CUNY Hunter College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY Hunter College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Economics at CUNY Hunter College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,528, but the average net cost is $9,784 — a 67% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →