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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #150 of 351

Economicsat Union College

Graduates earn $62,846/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $995K; scenarios range from $809K to $1,052K depending on AI disruption.

Schenectady, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
69
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$62,846
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$995K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Union College

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.

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
$809K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$995K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,052K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple4.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Union College'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 Union College 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 Union College

Other top programs at Union College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Union 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at Union College

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.