Economics at Hastings College

Nebraska's Economics bachelor's programs typically produce first-year earnings around $55,000, while national data from similar economics programs suggests starting salaries closer to $52,000. Hastings College falls into this national pattern based on peer institutions, with estimated first-year earnings of $51,722—slightly below what comparable Nebraska programs like Creighton report. The estimated debt of $24,102 sits close to national norms for economics degrees, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. This means graduates would owe roughly 47 cents for every dollar earned in their first year, a reasonable starting point for a social science degree.

The challenge is that these figures come from broader patterns rather than Hastings' actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about how this specific program performs. Economics degrees generally offer solid earning potential with room for growth as graduates move into finance, consulting, or analytics roles, but the field rewards additional credentials and networking opportunities that smaller colleges may provide differently than larger universities. At 70% admission selectivity and with 29% of students receiving Pell grants, Hastings serves a broad population, though it's unclear how well the program specifically prepares graduates for competitive economics careers.

Given the limited data, visit Hastings directly to ask about recent graduate placements, internship partnerships, and connections to Nebraska employers—especially in Omaha and Lincoln where economics jobs concentrate. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but actual outcomes could vary considerably.