Economics at Rowan University

Rowan's economics program shows significant long-term earnings growth, but starts at a worrying deficit. First-year graduates earn $38,580—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among New Jersey economics programs. While earnings jump 59% by year four to $61,353, that initial gap means graduates spend years catching up to peers who started higher. With 20 economics programs in New Jersey alone, this bottom-quartile start within the state is particularly concerning for a popular major.

The manageable debt load of $21,750 (below both state and national medians) provides some cushion, yielding a reasonable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio even with the low starting salary. The question is whether that four-year climb to above-average earnings compensates for the slow start. For context, Rutgers campuses and The College of New Jersey place their economics graduates at $52K-$62K right out of the gate—precisely where Rowan grads arrive after four years of career building.

Critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary substantially. If your child has stronger economics program options within New Jersey's public university system, those would likely provide better immediate career launch positions while maintaining the in-state tuition advantage.