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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #224 of 351

Economicsat Muhlenberg College

Graduates earn $59,122/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $760K; scenarios range from $648K to $790K depending on AI disruption.

Allentown, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
64
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$59,122
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$760K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College's Economics graduates start at $59,122/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,298 in median debt clears quickly against $59,122 in annual earnings.

Ranked #224 of 351 Economics programs, Muhlenberg College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $59,122 to $86,366 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career 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
$648K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$760K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple3.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$790K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Muhlenberg College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Muhlenberg College?

This program scores 63/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $648,320 in decade earnings vs $789,930 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.