Economicsat Smith College
Graduates earn $71,559/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $646K; scenarios range from $571K to $664K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Smith College
Studying Economics at Smith positions you exceptionally well, leveraging the college's rigorous liberal arts foundation and strong reputation. Your curriculum will emphasize critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and complex problem-solving, skills highly valued across diverse sectors from finance and consulting to tech and public policy. This analytical toolkit explains why graduates often secure roles as managers, economists, and data scientists, where their ability to interpret data and drive strategic decisions is paramount. While some routine analytical tasks face high AI risk, your education equips you to design, direct, and leverage AI tools, rather than be replaced by them. To maximize your potential, actively pursue internships that apply your economic theory to real-world business or policy challenges, and cultivate your network through Smith's powerful alumnae connections.
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 Smith 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 Smith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Smith College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Smith 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 Smith College
How does Smith College's Economics program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Smith 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.
How affordable is Economics at Smith College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $246,272, but the average net cost is $104,724 — a 57% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.