Location: Beloit, WI•In-State Tuition: $58,554•Admission Rate: 57%•Avg SAT: 1318
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$51,344
Est. from WI median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,718
Est. from WI median (3 programs)

Analysis

Similar economics programs in Wisconsin suggest first-year earnings around $51,344—right at the state median but trailing UW-Madison and several regional campuses by $3,000-$6,000. For a selective liberal arts college with a 1318 average SAT, Beloit's estimated earnings fall short of what peer institutions typically deliver for this major.

The estimated debt load of $23,718 keeps the burden manageable, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 that matches national patterns for economics degrees. This means graduates from comparable programs can typically cover their debt with roughly half of one year's salary—a workable arrangement. However, when UW-Oshkosh economics graduates earn $6,300 more in their first year while carrying similar debt, the cost-benefit calculation shifts considerably.

The gap matters because small differences in starting salary compound over a career. If Beloit's actual outcomes mirror these Wisconsin benchmarks, families should weigh whether the liberal arts experience justifies potentially earning $25,000-$30,000 less in the first five years compared to top state programs. Before committing, ask Beloit's career services for placement data specific to their economics graduates—understanding where students actually land could reveal strengths that aggregate state figures miss.

Where Beloit College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Beloit College (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Beloit CollegeBeloit$58,554$51,344*—$23,718*—
University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh$8,212$57,663*—$25,000*0.43
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison$11,205$54,495*$69,594$20,750*0.38
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse$9,651$53,595*$57,423$25,000*0.47
Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere$44,432$53,350*$66,245$27,000*0.51
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire$9,277$51,344*$58,841$21,500*0.42
National Median—$51,722*—$22,816*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Beloit College, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.