Economics at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth's economics degree launches graduates into earnings nearly double the national median for the field, with first-year income of $94,675 climbing to $118,120 by year four. Among New Hampshire's seven economics programs, this places in the 80th percentile—substantially ahead of UNH's $54,328 but comparable to Southern New Hampshire's outcomes at roughly $70,000. The real standout is the national comparison: Dartmouth ranks in the 95th percentile among all 808 schools offering economics degrees, meaning only 5% of programs deliver better results.

The debt picture makes this particularly compelling. At $18,400, graduates carry less than a fifth of their first-year salary in loans—one of the best debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find at this earnings level. While that's slightly above New Hampshire's state median debt of $19,500, the higher borrowing is more than justified by the outsized earnings advantage. The 25% salary growth from year one to year four also suggests strong career trajectory rather than a compensation ceiling.

For families who can navigate Dartmouth's 6% admission rate, this represents economics education at its most effective. The combination of immediate high earnings, manageable debt, and continued income growth makes the ROI straightforward, even for the 85% of students who don't receive Pell grants and likely face the full cost of attendance.