Economics at Washington & Jefferson College

Washington, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,402/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 6.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #225 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 $711K $689K $600K
Earnings Multiple 6.3x 6.1x 5.3x
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)
$112,740
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$102,176
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,999
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $50,402/yr, roughly in line with the $53,966 national median for Economics. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.1x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $50,402 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #225 of 351 Economics programs, Washington & Jefferson College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $50,402 to $74,999 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson College accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,154 in Washington, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington & Jefferson 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

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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 Washington & Jefferson 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 $599,866 in decade earnings vs $710,906 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →