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Economics at Occidental College

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $64,885/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #243 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 $719K $696K $605K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$253,784
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$157,316
38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,191
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $64,885 at Occidental College come in 20% above the national median of $53,966 for Economics programs.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $64,885 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #243 out of 351 programs, Occidental College's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $64,885 to $80,191 shows 24% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Occidental College

Occidental College accepts 40% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with a smaller student body of 1,844 in Los Angeles, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $157,316 over four years — 38% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Occidental 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 Occidental College

Computer Science ($63,845) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($49,529) Political Science and Government ($45,175) Sociology ($42,653) International Relations and National Security Studies ($35,231) Psychology, General ($31,002) Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($30,526) Biology, General ($28,691)

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

How does Occidental College's Economics program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Occidental 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →