Economics at University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,078/yr (-26% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI
15.5x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
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 | $689K | $669K | $586K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.0x | 15.5x | 13.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.6x | 5.5x | 4.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 66% | 60% | 41% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 64 | 63 | 63 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,128
Out-of-state: $122,288 (5.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,447
71% growth from Year 1
About University at Buffalo
A 69% admission rate makes University at Buffalo accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 20,284 in Buffalo, NY.
See all programs and financial aid at University at Buffalo →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Economists
$115,440/yr
Compare & Explore
Economics at Other Schools
Other Majors at University at Buffalo
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
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 Buffalo's Economics program score?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University at Buffalo 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 Buffalo?
Lower starting pay at University at Buffalo 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 →