Economics at American University

American University economics graduates earn solidly above the national average—landing at the 72nd percentile compared to other economics programs—but trail most DC-area competitors. That first-year salary of $58,151 beats the typical economics graduate nationwide by over $6,000, yet sits in just the 40th percentile locally. With Georgetown grads earning $84,460 and GWU matching the DC median of $67,684, AU students are paying for a DC address without capturing the full DC premium.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,625, creating a manageable 0.39 ratio to first-year earnings. Combined with solid 20% earnings growth to nearly $70,000 by year four, graduates establish a decent financial foundation. This trajectory suggests employers value the degree, even if the starting salary doesn't match what nearby schools command.

For families, this comes down to fit versus optimization. If your student is drawn to AU's campus culture and programs, the economics degree won't derail their finances—the fundamentals work. But if maximizing early earnings in DC is the priority, the data suggests looking at the higher-ranked programs that better leverage the city's concentration of policy, consulting, and finance jobs. AU delivers value; it just doesn't deliver the top-tier DC economic advantage you might expect from the location.