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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #248 of 351

Economicsat CUNY Hunter College

Graduates earn $34,580/yr in their first year — about 36.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $806K; scenarios range from $680K to $842K depending on AI disruption.

New York, NY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
61 SOLID
62
Optimistic
66
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,580
1-year post-graduation
ROI
25.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$806K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at CUNY Hunter College

Hunter College's Economics program offers a robust theoretical foundation within the competitive New York City landscape, but your initial career path may differ from national averages for this major. Many graduates find themselves in roles within the public sector, non-profits, or smaller analytical firms across the city's diverse economy, which often provide critical experience but may not command the highest entry-level salaries compared to specialized finance or tech roles. The program's strong liberal arts roots mean you'll gain excellent critical thinking skills, but the pipeline to high-paying Wall Street or top-tier consulting firms isn't as direct as at some other institutions. Given the very high AI risk associated with many analytical tasks, actively pursuing internships and developing strong quantitative skills, perhaps through a minor in data science or finance, will be crucial to carve out a distinct and resilient career path.

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
$680K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple23.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$806K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple27.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$842K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple28.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CUNY Hunter College'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 CUNY Hunter College 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 CUNY Hunter College

Other top programs at CUNY Hunter College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at CUNY Hunter 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at CUNY Hunter College

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.