Economics at Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna's economics program rivals Stanford's outcomes while keeping debt remarkably low—graduates here earn $89,505 in their first year, approaching Stanford's $98,104, but leave with just $12,000 in median debt. Among California's 55 economics programs, this ranks in the 95th percentile for earnings, outpacing even Berkeley ($80,446) and substantially ahead of the state median of $51,212.

The economics here are exceptional. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13, most graduates could theoretically pay off their entire student loan balance in under two months of work. Earnings also grow robustly—up 29% by year four to $115,832—suggesting these graduates are building careers with real momentum, not just landing well-paying first jobs. The sample size of 30-100 graduates provides reasonable confidence in these figures, though it's worth noting this reflects a selective pool (11% admission rate, 1514 average SAT).

For families weighing CMC against other top California schools, the value proposition is compelling. You're getting Stanford-tier outcomes at a fraction of the typical debt burden. The low Pell grant percentage (19%) means this isn't yet accessible to all families, but for those who can make the finances work—whether through aid, savings, or modest borrowing—the return on investment strongly justifies the cost.