Economicsat Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Graduates earn $51,848/yr in their first year — about 4.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $799K; scenarios range from $675K to $834K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rutgers
At $51,848/yr, Economics graduates from Rutgers University-New Brunswick land near the $53,966 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The 11.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $22,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #84 out of 351 programs, Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Economics program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $51,848 to $87,743 over five years (69% 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 Rutgers'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 Rutgers stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rutgers
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rutgers, 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 Rutgers
How does Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Economics program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does Rutgers University-New Brunswick rank so high for Economics?
The #84 ranking out of 351 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.