Location: Princeton, NJ•In-State Tuition: $59,710•Admission Rate: 5%•Avg SAT: 1535
2026 ROI Award Winner
#2 Social Sciences#64 Overall#2 in New Jersey
Median Earnings (1yr)
$103,041
95th percentile
Median Debt
$11,250
51% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.11 ManageableSample: 60 graduates

Analysis

Princeton Economics graduates earn nearly double the national median for the degree—$103,041 versus $51,722—while carrying roughly half the typical debt burden. This isn't just impressive in absolute terms; among New Jersey economics programs, Princeton ranks at the 95th percentile for earnings, far outpacing even strong programs like The College of New Jersey ($62,218). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.11 means graduates owe just over one month's salary, a remarkably manageable position that few programs match.

The numbers reflect both Princeton's elite status (5% admission rate, 1535 average SAT) and its substantial financial aid resources—though only 19% of students receive Pell grants, those who do graduate with debt loads well below national norms. The moderate sample size of 30-100 graduates is typical for an Ivy League economics program and doesn't undermine the reliability of these figures.

For families who can navigate Princeton's highly selective admissions, the economics program delivers exceptional return on investment. The combination of top-5-percentile earnings and minimal debt creates unusual financial flexibility for graduates entering careers in finance, consulting, policy, or graduate school. While admission remains the primary barrier, the program's financial outcomes justify the competitive application process for students with realistic chances of acceptance.

Where Princeton University Stands

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

Princeton UniversityOther economics programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Princeton University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Princeton University earns $103k — 95th percentile among economics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (20 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Princeton UniversityPrinceton$59,710$103,041—$11,2500.11
The College of New JerseyEwing$18,685$62,218$67,369$23,5000.38
Rutgers University-NewarkNewark$16,586$51,848$78,565$24,9650.48
Rutgers University-CamdenCamden$17,079$51,848$78,565$24,9650.48
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick$17,239$51,848$78,565$24,9650.48
Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange$51,370$51,464$64,328$21,4130.42
National Median—$51,722—$22,8160.44

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 Princeton University, approximately 19% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 60 graduates with reported earnings and 20 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.