Economics at Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT's economics program lands right at the state median for first-year earnings—similar programs across New York typically produce graduates earning around $50,000—but the debt picture here deserves attention. At $27,082, graduates carry about $5,500 more than the state median for economics majors and nearly $4,300 above the national benchmark. That puts this program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning 95% of economics bachelor's programs saddle students with less debt.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 suggests manageable repayment—graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary. However, that calculation assumes earnings track with peer programs statewide, and there's considerable variation among New York economics degrees. The top programs in the state produce graduates earning $80,000-plus in their first year, nearly double what typical programs deliver. RIT's selectivity (71% admission rate, 1378 SAT) positions it somewhere in the middle tier, but without actual earnings data for this specific program, there's uncertainty about where graduates land within that wide range.

The key question is whether RIT's economics degree justifies carrying above-average debt when peer programs in New York produce similar earnings with lighter loan burdens. If your child is drawn to RIT's co-op program or technical focus, that might tip the scales, but financially this looks like paying more for outcomes that comparable programs deliver at lower cost.