Economics at Hood College

Hood College's estimated outcomes for economics graduates fall squarely at Maryland's median—around $51,500 in first-year earnings based on comparable programs in the state. That positions the program below the state's flagship universities but in line with other mid-tier Maryland institutions. The estimated debt of $25,000 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their annual salary.

The challenge here is visibility. Because Hood's graduate cohort is small enough that the Department of Education suppresses actual outcomes data, we're working with state averages rather than school-specific results. This tells us what similar Maryland economics programs typically produce, but not necessarily what Hood delivers. The 78% admission rate and substantial Pell enrollment suggest Hood serves students who might not access more selective programs, which could be valuable if the actual outcomes match these estimates.

For parents, the estimated debt burden appears reasonable—monthly payments around $280 on a standard plan against mid-$40K take-home pay. The real question is whether Hood's specific program performs at the state median or below it. Request actual graduate outcomes directly from Hood's career services office, particularly employment rates and median starting salaries for recent economics graduates. Without hard numbers for this specific program, you're making an investment decision based on what peer programs deliver rather than proven results.