Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $40,078 place University at Buffalo below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The 15.5x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $40,078 far exceeding the $17,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #223 out of 351 programs, University at Buffalo's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $40,078 to $68,447 over five years (71% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.