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Economics at SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,547/yr (-23% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 18.0x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #193 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 $625K $611K $547K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.4x 18.0x 16.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.3x 8.1x 7.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,944
Out-of-state: $75,624 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,916
-68% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,835
51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,547 place SUNY Buffalo State University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 18.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$41,547 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #193 out of 351 programs, SUNY Buffalo State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $41,547 to $62,835 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY Buffalo State University

SUNY Buffalo State University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,358 students in Buffalo, NY. 53% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Buffalo State University →

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 SUNY Buffalo State University

Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($71,894) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($57,431) Information Science/Studies ($49,686) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($48,355) Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services ($46,519) Social Work ($39,695) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($38,283) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($36,654)

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

How does SUNY Buffalo State University's Economics program score?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but SUNY Buffalo State University 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 SUNY Buffalo State University?
Lower starting pay at SUNY Buffalo State University 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 →