Economics at Marietta College

For a bachelor's degree that costs an estimated $25,000 in debt, Marietta's Economics program appears to track closely with typical outcomes across Ohio. Similar economics programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $51,500—nearly identical to both state and national medians for this field. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary.

What's harder to gauge is how Marietta specifically compares to its Ohio peers. The top-performing economics programs in the state—places like John Carroll, Oberlin, and Cincinnati—show reported earnings $6,500 to $13,500 higher than what comparable programs suggest for Marietta. Whether that gap reflects Marietta's actual outcomes or simply the limitations of working with estimated data remains unclear. The college's 79% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest it serves a broader student population than some of those higher-earning competitors.

The core question is whether you're comfortable with typical economics outcomes at a debt level that won't be crippling. If your child thrives in a less selective environment and values the smaller college experience Marietta offers, the estimated financials don't raise red flags. But if prestige and peak earnings matter, other Ohio programs have demonstrated stronger results—at least among those with enough graduates to generate public data.