Economics at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Based on comparable economics programs across Florida, FAMU students would enter the workforce earning around $47,300—right at the state median but $4,400 below the national benchmark. The estimated $19,563 in debt translates to a manageable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly 5 months of their first-year salary. That's notably better than both the state and national median debt loads for economics degrees, which typically exceed $21,000.

The gap to national earnings deserves attention. While Florida's economics programs generally trail the national median, peer institutions like Tampa ($54,284) demonstrate that stronger first-year outcomes are achievable in-state. Whether FAMU's program matches the estimated figures—or potentially exceeds them given the school's selective 21% admission rate—remains unclear without actual graduate data. The 56% Pell grant rate suggests many students are using this degree as a genuine economic mobility tool, which makes the earnings trajectory particularly important to understand.

For families weighing this investment, the lower estimated debt is encouraging, but you'll want direct evidence of where FAMU graduates actually land in their careers. Contact the economics department for placement data, starting salaries at specific employers, and graduate school admission rates. Economics degrees typically gain value over time, so understanding whether FAMU's alumni network and career services can help students reach that trajectory matters more than any first-year estimate.