Economics at Northeastern University Oakland

Northeastern's Oakland campus carries the selective admissions profile of a prestigious institution—17% acceptance rate, 1472 average SAT—but the economics program's outcomes tell a more sobering story. With estimated first-year earnings around $51,000 (based on California's median for economics bachelor's programs), graduates start considerably behind what you'd expect from a school competing with Stanford and Berkeley for the same caliber of students. By year four, earnings jump to $81,500, suggesting strong trajectory, but that initial gap matters when you're carrying $24,500 in debt from a private university experience.

The comparison to California's top economics programs is stark: Stanford grads earn nearly double in their first year, Berkeley grads $30,000 more. Even accounting for estimation uncertainty, Northeastern Oakland appears positioned in the middle of California's economics landscape rather than at the top tier its admissions selectivity would suggest. The debt load, while manageable at roughly half the first year's salary, exceeds both state and national medians for economics programs—unusual for outcomes that track to state averages.

For parents, the tension is clear: you're paying private university prices and clearing a highly selective admissions bar, but the estimated returns align with typical California economics programs rather than elite ones. Unless Northeastern Oakland offers compelling career services, network access, or geographic advantages specific to your student's goals, comparable outcomes may be available at lower cost elsewhere in the state.