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Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,439/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #221 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 $861K $823K $692K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.8x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$217,240
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,580
50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,545
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,439 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 3.8x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $23,250 in median debt against $52,439 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #221 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Gustavus Adolphus College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $52,439-to-$90,545 earnings arc over five years reflects a 73% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About Gustavus Adolphus College

With a 62% acceptance rate, Gustavus Adolphus College is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,930 students in Saint Peter, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,580 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,294) Accounting and Related Services ($64,094) Communication and Media Studies ($50,074) Business/Commerce, General ($49,881) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,250) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($44,117) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,796) Political Science and Government ($38,463)

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

What does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College?
At 63/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Economics at Gustavus Adolphus College?
The 50% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $217,240. At a net cost of $107,580, the earnings multiple improves substantially.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →