Economics at California Institute of Technology

The estimated first-year earnings of $51,212 for Caltech's economics program seem implausibly low given the institution's extraordinary selectivity and reputation. With a 3% admission rate and a student body that routinely turns down offers from other elite schools, the reality is almost certainly that these figures—borrowed from the California state median—tell us nothing meaningful about actual Caltech economics outcomes. The suppressed data likely reflects small cohort sizes (economics isn't Caltech's primary draw), not poor results.

For context, comparable elite California programs report dramatically higher earnings: Stanford economics grads earn $98,000 in their first year, Berkeley grads earn $80,000, and even smaller liberal arts colleges like Claremont McKenna see $89,000. It would be extraordinary if Caltech, which competes directly with these schools for students and whose STEM-focused environment commands premium salaries, produced economics graduates earning half what Stanford's do. The estimated $21,500 debt figure is more plausible and manageable either way.

The practical reality: if your child is admitted to Caltech and interested in economics, the decision should rest on fit and career goals, not these estimates. Caltech economics grads likely command strong outcomes, particularly if they leverage the school's quantitative rigor toward finance, tech, or graduate school. The suppressed data simply means you're flying blind on specifics—but the school's overall reputation provides reasonable confidence.