Economics at William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $65,603/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 7.4x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #109 of 351 Economics programs Top 50%

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 $775K $746K $639K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.7x 7.4x 6.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.9x 3.8x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$100,160
Out-of-state: $197,648 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$90,116
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$86,782
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $65,603 per year, Economics graduates from William & Mary earn slightly above the $53,966 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

At 7.4x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #109 out of 351 programs, William & Mary's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $65,603 to $86,782 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About William & Mary

A 33% acceptance rate puts William & Mary in competitive admissions territory, enrolling 6,949 students in Williamsburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at William & Mary →

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 William & Mary

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 William & Mary's Economics program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. William & Mary's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 →