Economicsat St Olaf College
Graduates earn $56,238/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $726K; scenarios range from $626K to $753K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at St Olaf College
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.
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 St Olaf 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 St Olaf College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at St Olaf College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Olaf 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 St Olaf College
How does St Olaf College's Economics program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but St Olaf 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 St Olaf College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $227,880, but the average net cost is $91,008 — a 60% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.