Location: Baltimore, MD•In-State Tuition: $8,118•Out-of-State Tuition: $18,800•Admission Rate: 83%•Avg SAT: 984
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$51,483
Est. from MD median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,009
Est. from MD median (4 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable economics programs in Maryland, Morgan State appears positioned right at the state median for first-year earnings ($51,483), putting graduates on similar footing to those from St. Mary's College while trailing flagship programs like UMD-College Park by about $7,000 annually. The estimated debt load of $21,009 is below both state and national medians, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41—meaning graduates might expect to earn roughly double their debt in their first year. For a school where more than half of students receive Pell grants, keeping borrowing below $22,000 matters considerably.

The challenge lies in the uncertainty. With too few graduates to generate actual outcomes data, we're inferring from peer programs rather than tracking where Morgan State's own economics majors land. The university's open-access mission (83% admission rate) serves students who might not access economics elsewhere, but that also means career outcomes could vary significantly based on internship access, alumni networks, and individual hustle. The gap between Morgan State's estimated earnings and Johns Hopkins' $78,000 reflects more than just academic rigor—it's about recruiting pipelines and employer relationships.

If your student thrives with strong mentorship and takes ownership of career preparation, this program offers reasonable value. But understand you're making an investment based on what similar programs produce, not proven track record from this specific institution.

Where Morgan State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all economics bachelors's programs nationally

Morgan State University (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Maryland

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Maryland (16 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Morgan State UniversityBaltimore$8,118$51,483*—$21,009*—
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore$63,340$78,181*$108,040$12,494*0.16
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park$11,505$58,650*$72,814$20,097*0.34
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBaltimore$12,952$54,859*$68,275$21,920*0.40
St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City$15,236$51,483*$61,048$24,946*0.48
Towson UniversityTowson$11,306$50,910*$60,328$18,838*0.37
National Median—$51,722*—$22,816*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Morgan State University, approximately 54% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in MD. Actual outcomes may vary.