Economics at Reed College

Reed's economics graduates earn roughly $53,000 a year after graduation—substantially above Oregon's median of $46,000 for the program and moderately ahead of the national benchmark. Among Oregon's 14 economics programs, this performance places Reed at the top, outpacing even Lewis & Clark and Portland State despite Reed's rigorous liberal arts focus and notably lower Pell grant enrollment (just 12%). The debt load of $22,842 is close to both state and national medians, yielding a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio.

However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably year to year. Reed's highly selective admissions and academic intensity attract students who might succeed financially regardless of their major, making it difficult to isolate the program's specific contribution to outcomes. Still, for families already drawn to Reed's distinctive educational model, the economics track appears to deliver competitive early earnings without excessive debt—a reasonable outcome for a liberal arts degree at a selective institution.

If your student thrives in Reed's unconventional environment and values intellectual rigor over pre-professional training, these numbers suggest the economics program won't undermine their financial footing. Just recognize that the small cohort makes this more of a directional signal than a precise forecast.