Economics at Boston University

Boston University's economics program costs more than peers but trails most comparable Massachusetts programs. At $24,500 in debt versus $55,733 in first-year earnings, the immediate financial picture looks manageable. However, context matters: this sits squarely in the middle of Massachusetts economics programs (40th percentile), significantly behind the state's elite liberal arts colleges and even Tufts, despite BU's 11% admission rate suggesting similar selectivity.

The 39% earnings growth from year one to year four is the redeeming factor here. Graduates who start at $55,733 reach $77,424 by their fourth year out—a trajectory that suggests BU's economics degree opens doors that take time to walk through. For context, this program performs better than 64% of economics programs nationally, just not the top-tier Massachusetts options where families often comparison shop.

The question for parents is whether BU's trajectory justifies paying roughly the same debt as Wellesley or Williams while earning $10,000-30,000 less initially. If your child has options at Harvard, Amherst, or Wellesley, the data favors those schools. If comparing against less selective Massachusetts programs or out-of-state flagship universities, BU's combination of manageable debt and strong mid-career momentum becomes more compelling—particularly given the robust sample size making these figures reliable.