Economics at Lafayette College

Lafayette College economics graduates are earning about $15,000 more than Pennsylvania's median just one year out, putting them in striking distance of powerhouse programs at Carnegie Mellon and Bucknell. Among Pennsylvania's 49 economics programs, this performance lands in the 80th percentile—impressive company for a program that costs students only $19,500 in median debt. That debt load sits well below both the state average of $25,782 and the national benchmark of $22,816, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 that most parents would consider quite manageable.

The real story here is trajectory: earnings jump 30% by year four, reaching $88,504. While that's still below Penn's stratospheric numbers, it closes the gap considerably and suggests Lafayette's liberal arts environment combined with selective admissions (31% acceptance rate, 1419 SAT) is building strong career momentum. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs, but the pattern is encouraging.

For families weighing Lafayette's economics program, you're looking at top-quintile performance in Pennsylvania with below-average debt—a combination that's hard to find. The strong four-year earnings growth indicates graduates are positioning themselves well for career advancement, not just landing decent first jobs.