Economicsat Lafayette College
Graduates earn $68,164/yr in their first year — about 26.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $903K; scenarios range from $746K to $949K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lafayette College
Lafayette College Economics graduates command $68,164/yr out of the gate, well above the $53,966 national median. That 26% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.
The 3.6x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $68,164 in annual earnings.
Ranked #153 out of 351 programs, Lafayette College's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $68,164 to $106,100 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Lafayette College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Economics
How Lafayette College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lafayette College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lafayette 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 →Frequently asked about Economics at Lafayette College
How does Lafayette College's Economics program score?
This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Economics graduates.
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.