Location: Lancaster, PA•In-State Tuition: $68,380•Admission Rate: 32%•Avg SAT: 1394
Median Earnings (1yr)
$52,801
54th percentile
40th percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Debt
$23,048
1% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.44 ManageableSample: 38 graduates

Analysis

Franklin and Marshall's economics program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—slightly above the national median at $52,801, but notably below Pennsylvania's typical economics graduate who earns $53,396. More concerning is the state percentile ranking: at the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania programs, this means six out of ten economics programs in the state deliver better first-year earnings. For a selective school with an admission rate of 32% and average SAT of 1394, that's underwhelming.

The debt load of $23,048 is reasonable and slightly below the state median, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that shouldn't burden graduates excessively. But context matters here—you're comparing against programs like Swarthmore ($76,944) and Bucknell ($70,946), which cost similar amounts but deliver 45-50% higher earnings. Even mid-tier Pennsylvania State schools often outperform this outcome.

For parents investing in a private liberal arts education, the calculus here depends heavily on net cost after aid. If your family qualifies for substantial financial aid, Franklin and Marshall's economics program offers a solid foundation without crushing debt. But at or near full price, you're essentially paying premium tuition for middle-of-the-road outcomes in a state with stronger alternatives. The gap between what this school's selectivity suggests and what its economics graduates actually earn is worth investigating during your campus visit.

Where Franklin and Marshall College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Franklin and Marshall CollegeOther economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Franklin and Marshall College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Franklin and Marshall College earns $53k — 54th percentile among economics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (49 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster$68,380$52,801—$23,0480.44
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$89,097$125,816$14,0000.16
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh$63,829$86,284$94,093$22,0200.26
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore$62,412$76,944$105,566$19,5000.25
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia$60,663$70,967$83,676$29,0000.41
Bucknell UniversityLewisburg$64,772$70,946$79,134$25,8880.36
National Median—$51,722—$22,8160.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
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 Franklin and Marshall College, approximately 17% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 38 graduates with reported earnings and 41 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.