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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #250 of 351

Economicsat Dickinson College

Graduates earn $53,990/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $791K; scenarios range from $670K to $825K depending on AI disruption.

Carlisle, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
61 SOLID
62
Optimistic
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$53,990
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$791K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Dickinson College

First-year earnings of $53,990 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

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

At $19,000 in median debt against $53,990 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #250 out of 351 programs, Dickinson College's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $53,990 to $87,865 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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
$670K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$791K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple3.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$825K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Dickinson College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Dickinson 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 Dickinson College

How does Dickinson College's Economics program score?

A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Dickinson 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.