Economics at Franklin and Marshall College

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.