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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #101 of 351

Economicsat Wellesley College

Graduates earn $86,367/yr in their first year — about 60.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $867K; scenarios range from $722K to $910K depending on AI disruption.

Wellesley, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
71 STRONG
73
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$86,367
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$867K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Wellesley College

Your Wellesley Economics degree opens doors to highly competitive fields, reflecting the program's rigorous analytical training within a top-tier liberal arts framework. Employers in Boston's robust financial, consulting, and tech sectors actively seek out graduates, valuing your critical thinking, quantitative prowess, and sophisticated communication skills honed over four years. This strong regional pipeline, coupled with Wellesley's national reputation, positions you for leadership roles quickly, whether in strategic management, data-driven analysis, or impactful policy work. While the high AI risk for some economic tasks is real, it underscores the need for you to cultivate advanced problem-solving, creative strategy, and interpersonal leadership skills. Focus on internships that demand complex, non-routine decision-making and collaborative projects to future-proof your career.

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
$722K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple2.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$867K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$910K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Wellesley College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Wellesley 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 Wellesley College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Wellesley College?

This program scores 71/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Economics careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $721,707 in decade earnings vs $909,624 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Wellesley College a hidden gem for Economics?

After financial aid, the average student pays $100,032 over four years — 61% below the $257,280 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.