Economics at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State's economics program produces graduates earning about $54,000 in their first year—solidly above both the national and Michigan medians for the degree. What makes this particularly noteworthy: students leave with just $27,000 in debt, putting them in the 5th percentile nationally for borrowing. That 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary, a manageable threshold that gives them financial flexibility early in their careers.

Within Michigan, this program punches slightly above its weight. It ranks in the 60th percentile statewide for earnings, trailing the flagship University of Michigan program but outperforming several well-regarded institutions. The 9% earnings growth to year four suggests graduates are building solid career momentum, though the extremely small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians.

For families seeking an affordable economics degree with reasonable earning potential, this hits the mark. The combination of low debt and respectable starting salaries means graduates aren't locked into high-paying jobs just to manage loans—they have breathing room to explore different career paths or geographic markets. Just keep in mind the limited data means you're working with less certainty than programs with hundreds of tracked graduates.