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Economics at Union College

Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $62,846/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #150 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,052K $995K $809K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.7x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$265,824
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$144,000
46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$113,427
80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $62,846 at Union College come in 16% above the national median of $53,966 for Economics programs.

The 3.7x 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 23% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $62,846 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #150 out of 351 programs, Union College's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $62,846 to $113,427 over five years (80% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Union College

A 44% admission rate makes Union College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 2,070 in Schenectady, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $144,000 over four years — 46% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Union College →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at Union College

Mechanical Engineering ($68,407) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,624) Political Science and Government ($49,759) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($45,516) Neurobiology and Neurosciences ($44,927) Research and Experimental Psychology ($30,061)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Union College's Economics program score?
This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Economics graduates.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →