Economics at Brown University

Brown's economics program launches graduates into strong earnings territory immediately, with first-year salaries of $72,064 that climb to nearly $95,000 by year four. While these numbers place graduates in the 95th percentile nationally—earning roughly 40% more than the typical economics graduate—Rhode Island context tells a more nuanced story. Among the state's eight economics programs, Brown ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing Providence College by a few thousand dollars initially. Still, Brown graduates carry just $13,000 in median debt, less than half the state average and among the lowest debt loads for any economics program in the country.

The 32% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are gaining traction in competitive fields like finance, consulting, or tech—industries where Brown's network matters. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 means the typical graduate could theoretically pay off loans in about two months of gross salary, making this an extremely manageable investment. Given Brown's 5% acceptance rate, families should recognize this program serves an already elite-selected student body, which likely contributes to these outcomes.

For families who can navigate Brown's competitive admissions and afford the investment (note the low Pell Grant percentage), this economics degree delivers both strong immediate returns and career momentum. The minimal debt burden removes a major financial stressor that economics graduates at other schools face.