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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #193 of 351

Economicsat SUNY Buffalo State University

Graduates earn $41,547/yr in their first year — about 23.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $611K; scenarios range from $547K to $625K depending on AI disruption.

Buffalo, NY Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,547
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$611K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Buffalo State

First-year earnings of $41,547 place SUNY Buffalo State University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 18.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$41,547 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #193 out of 351 programs, SUNY Buffalo State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $41,547 to $62,835 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$547K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple16.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$611K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple18.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$625K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple18.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Buffalo State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How Buffalo State stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at Buffalo State

Other top programs at Buffalo State

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Buffalo State, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Buffalo State

How does SUNY Buffalo State University's Economics program score?

A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but SUNY Buffalo State University 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.

Why are Economics earnings lower at SUNY Buffalo State University?

Lower starting pay at SUNY Buffalo State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.