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Business · Business Economics Rank #60 of 81

Business Economicsat Hampden-Sydney College

Graduates earn $52,087/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Business Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $770K; scenarios range from $668K to $810K depending on AI disruption.

Hampden-Sydney, VA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
55 SOLID
56
Optimistic
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$52,087
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$770K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
57% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney College's Business Economics program produces graduates earning $52,087/yr — within striking distance of the $53,330 national average for this field.

The 3.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 53% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,970 debt-to-$52,087 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #60 out of 81 programs, Hampden-Sydney College's financial outcomes for Business Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $52,087 to $85,615 over five years (64% 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
$668K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score51/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$770K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score55/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$810K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Hampden-Sydney College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Business 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
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
2
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
3
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
4
Management analysts
+8.8% 10-yr growth · 98,100 openings/yr
$101,190/yr
Moderate
5
Survey researchers
-5.2% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$63,380/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 Business Economics

How Hampden-Sydney College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$107K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
University of California-Los Angeles
CA · Public
77
DW Score
$84K
1-yr earn
20.5x
ROI
Villanova University
PA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Lehigh University
PA · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Top score
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
78
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
51.1x
ROI
Also at Hampden-Sydney College

Other top programs at Hampden-Sydney College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Hampden-Sydney College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Business Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Business Economics at Hampden-Sydney College

How does Hampden-Sydney College's Business Economics program score?

A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Hampden-Sydney College trails the majority of Business Economics programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Business Economics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Business Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 53% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

How affordable is Business Economics at Hampden-Sydney College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $209,552, but the average net cost is $98,672 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.