Economics at Marist University

Marist's economics graduates see impressive earnings growth—jumping from $55,614 to $84,203 in just four years—though you should know these numbers come from a small graduating class (under 30 students), making them less reliable predictors of future outcomes. That four-year salary approaches what graduates earn from Columbia and Cornell, though whether this trajectory continues for every cohort is uncertain given the limited data.

The debt picture is notably favorable: at $26,000, it's below both national and state medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that's quite manageable. Graduates can reasonably expect to pay down their loans within 18 months of first-year earnings, assuming aggressive repayment. Among New York economics programs, Marist ranks around the 60th percentile for earnings—solidly middle-of-the-pack in a state dominated by elite institutions.

The real question is whether the small sample reflects genuine program strength or just a few well-connected graduates who landed strong positions. For a school with a 65% admission rate, these outcomes are impressive, but parents should recognize they're making a bet with limited evidence. If your child is entrepreneurial and good at networking (skills that matter enormously in economics careers), Marist could offer strong ROI without the debt load of higher-ranked programs.