Economics at Bucknell University

Bucknell economics graduates start at $71,000—37% above the national median for economics majors and 33% above Pennsylvania's typical outcome. Among the 49 Pennsylvania schools offering economics degrees, Bucknell ranks in the 80th percentile, trailing only Penn, Carnegie Mellon, Swarthmore, and Drexel. With debt of just $26,000, well below the national average, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means graduates carry less than five months of their first-year salary in student loans.

What makes this particularly compelling is the combination of strong starting salaries and modest debt burden. While Bucknell's economics program doesn't command the six-figure salaries of Penn or Carnegie Mellon, the 12% earnings growth to $79,000 by year four suggests solid career trajectory. The debt burden—in the 20th percentile nationally—means Bucknell manages to deliver premium outcomes without the premium debt load often associated with selective private colleges.

For families weighing Bucknell's economics program, the math is straightforward: graduates earn more than three-quarters of Pennsylvania's economics majors while taking on debt in line with state averages. The 32% admission rate and 1389 average SAT suggest this outcome requires strong academic credentials, but for admitted students, it represents one of the state's better economics investments outside the very top tier.