Economicsat Stony Brook University
Graduates earn $44,349/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $767K; scenarios range from $653K to $798K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Stony Brook
First-year earnings of $44,349 place Stony Brook University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
With a 18.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $44,349 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #105 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Stony Brook University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $44,349-to-$80,632 earnings arc over five years reflects a 82% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
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 Stony Brook'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 Stony Brook stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Stony Brook
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Stony Brook, 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 Stony Brook
What does a 71/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Stony Brook University?
At 71/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Stony Brook University?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Stony Brook University a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Stony Brook University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.