Economicsat SUNY at Purchase College
Graduates earn $34,297/yr in their first year — about 36.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $726K; scenarios range from $625K to $752K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at SUNY at Purchase College
The financial outcomes for Economics graduates from SUNY Purchase reflect the institution's liberal arts strengths rather than a direct pipeline to high-paying financial or quantitative roles. Your degree here will likely emphasize critical thinking, economic theory, and broad analytical skills, providing a versatile foundation. However, it may not include the intensive quantitative training or direct recruiting relationships with major financial firms that often boost early career salaries for economics majors from more specialized business or research-focused universities.
Graduates frequently find roles in non-profit administration, local government, education, or general business analysis, especially within the Westchester County and broader NYC region. These positions offer valuable experience but typically start at more modest compensation levels. To leverage your Purchase Economics degree into the higher-earning paths like data science or econometrics, you'll need to proactively seek out internships that build specific quantitative skills, consider a complementary minor, or plan for graduate studies early in your career.
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 SUNY at Purchase 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 SUNY at Purchase College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at SUNY at Purchase College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at SUNY at Purchase 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 SUNY at Purchase College
What does a 58/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at SUNY at Purchase College?
At 58/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at SUNY at Purchase College?
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 SUNY at Purchase College a good choice for Economics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If SUNY at Purchase College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.