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Economics at University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,188/yr (-31% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #275 of 351 Economics programs

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 $682K $663K $582K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.4x 15.9x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,632
Out-of-state: $115,992 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,944
-78% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,574
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,432
79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $37,188/yr fall 31% below the $53,966 national median for Economics. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 15.9x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,574 debt-to-$37,188 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #275 out of 351 programs, University at Albany's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $37,188 to $66,432 over five years (79% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University at Albany

With a 70% acceptance rate, University at Albany is moderately selective, enrolling 12,100 students in Albany, NY. With 42% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University at Albany →

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 University at Albany

Applied Mathematics ($65,604) Accounting and Related Services ($55,124) Mathematics and Statistics, Other ($51,917) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,759) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,605) Chemistry ($48,276) Mathematics ($45,744) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($45,637)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University at Albany's Economics program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University at Albany 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 University at Albany?
Lower starting pay at University at Albany may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →