Analysis
Fort Lewis College's economics program appears positioned right in the middle of Colorado's landscape, with estimated first-year earnings around $51,500—matching both the state and national median for economics bachelor's degrees. That's solid footing for a liberal arts college with a 93% admission rate, though peer programs in the state suggest a fairly wide range of outcomes, from roughly $48,500 to over $58,000. The estimated $23,400 debt load keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.45, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary, which falls within reasonable bounds for immediate manageability.
What matters here is recognizing these are estimates drawn from similar Colorado programs, not Fort Lewis's actual graduate outcomes. The small sample size that triggered data suppression makes it harder to know whether this specific program performs at, above, or below the state average. For anxious parents, that means the decision hinges more on fit and cost than on hard evidence of program strength. The fundamentals look reasonable—middle-of-the-pack earnings with manageable debt—but without actual data, you're essentially betting that Fort Lewis tracks with typical Colorado economics programs rather than outperforming or underperforming them.
Where Fort Lewis College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado
Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (13 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9,670 | $51,521* | — | $23,400* | — | |
| $67,932 | $58,082* | $79,354 | $18,250* | 0.31 | |
| $10,017 | $56,201* | $65,621 | $23,049* | 0.41 | |
| $11,083 | $53,403* | — | —* | — | |
| $16,430 | $51,521* | $65,987 | $17,119* | 0.33 | |
| $12,896 | $48,462* | $61,513 | $24,000* | 0.50 | |
| National Median | — | $51,722* | — | $22,816* | 0.44 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates
Economists
Environmental Economists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
Clinical Data Managers
Statisticians
Biostatisticians
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Search Marketing Strategists
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Survey Researchers
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Fort Lewis College, approximately 36% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in CO. Actual outcomes may vary.