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Economics at Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $59,122/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #224 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 $790K $760K $648K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$240,960
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$121,256
50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,298
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,366
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Muhlenberg College's Economics graduates start at $59,122/yr — above the $53,966 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,298 in median debt clears quickly against $59,122 in annual earnings.

Ranked #224 of 351 Economics programs, Muhlenberg College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $59,122 to $86,366 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Muhlenberg College

Muhlenberg College's 64% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,777 students in Allentown, PA. The average net cost of $121,256 over four years represents a 50% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Muhlenberg 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

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 Muhlenberg College

Accounting and Related Services ($68,852) Finance and Financial Management Services ($61,304) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($56,434) Communication and Media Studies ($29,950) Neurobiology and Neurosciences ($29,250) Biology, General ($27,005) Dance ($26,415) Political Science and Government ($25,058)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Muhlenberg College?
This program scores 63/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Economics programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $648,320 in decade earnings vs $789,930 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →