Economicsat Whitman College
Graduates earn $46,832/yr in their first year — about 13.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $873K; scenarios range from $726K to $916K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Whitman College
Graduates earn $46,832/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
At 3.5x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.
The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Economics career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $46,832 far exceeding the $16,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #269 ranking among 351 Economics programs places Whitman College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $46,832-to-$92,363 earnings arc over five years reflects a 97% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Whitman College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Economics
How Whitman College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Whitman College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Whitman 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 →Frequently asked about Economics at Whitman College
What does a 60/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at Whitman College?
At 60/100, the score looks reasonable — but Economics is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at Whitman College?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.