Program Analysis
Graduates earn $56,238/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 3.2x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $56,238 far exceeding the $26,671 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #246 out of 351 programs, St Olaf College's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $56,238 to $81,483 shows 45% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.