Economics at Amherst College

Among the 38 Massachusetts schools offering economics degrees, Amherst's program sits at the very top—95th percentile for earnings—with first-year graduates earning $90,568 compared to the state median of $57,299. That's a $33,000 premium right out of the gate, positioning Amherst just behind Harvard and ahead of elite competitors like Williams and Tufts. Four years out, earnings jump to $127,636, a 41% increase that suggests strong career trajectory. The debt picture is equally impressive: $16,662 is roughly one-third of the state median and creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.18, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about two months of work.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than these medians suggest. Still, the pattern aligns with what you'd expect from one of the nation's most selective liberal arts colleges (10% admission rate, 1494 average SAT). For families who can afford Amherst or secure sufficient financial aid, this represents a low-risk investment with strong earning potential from day one.