Economics at Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College's economics program generates earnings that lag behind most Pennsylvania schools—landing in just the 40th percentile statewide—while graduates carry about $27,000 in debt. That debt load sits well below both national and state averages, which helps, but the starting salary of $51,183 still trails the Pennsylvania median by over $2,000. When you're competing against powerhouses like Penn and Carnegie Mellon in the same state, that gap matters for students considering their in-state options.

The 25% earnings growth to $64,060 by year four shows solid progression, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 means graduates should be able to manage their loans without major strain. However, it's worth noting this analysis comes from a small sample (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. The program essentially delivers middle-of-the-road results: not alarming, but not compelling either.

For families evaluating this program, the key question is opportunity cost. At 75% admission rate, Lebanon Valley is accessible, but economics students might find better returns at other Pennsylvania schools with similar selectivity. Unless there are strong fit reasons—scholarships, location, campus culture—this program's positioning in the bottom half of state performers suggests looking at alternatives before committing.