Economics at Dickinson College

Carlisle, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $53,990/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #250 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 $825K $791K $670K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.1x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$253,900
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$128,764
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$87,865
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $53,990 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.1x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,000 in median debt against $53,990 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #250 out of 351 programs, Dickinson College's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $53,990 to $87,865 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Dickinson College

With a 43% acceptance rate, Dickinson College is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 2,157 in Carlisle, PA. The average net cost of $128,764 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Dickinson College →

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

Economics at Other Schools

Other Majors at Dickinson College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Dickinson College's Economics program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Dickinson College 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →