Location: Salem, MA•In-State Tuition: $11,978•Out-of-State Tuition: $18,961•Admission Rate: 96%•Avg SAT: 1090
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$57,299
Est. from MA median (21 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,500
Est. from MA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable economics programs in Massachusetts, Salem State appears positioned right at the state median—with estimated first-year earnings around $57,300 and debt near $26,500. That 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could reasonably manage their loans, though it's worth noting these figures come from peer programs rather than Salem State's specific track record.

The context here matters: Salem State serves a different student population than the elite liberal arts colleges that dominate Massachusetts economics rankings. With 35% of students receiving Pell grants and a 96% admission rate, this is an access-oriented institution where economics still appears to produce solid middle-class outcomes—the estimated earnings match the state median and exceed the national benchmark by about $5,500. While Harvard and Amherst graduates start at nearly double these earnings, they're also drawing from dramatically different applicant pools.

The practical question is whether $26,500 in debt is worth it for mid-$50,000 starting salaries. Similar programs suggest yes—monthly loan payments would consume roughly 11% of gross income, which falls within manageable territory. However, the lack of actual reported data means you're betting on Salem State performing like the average Massachusetts economics program. If your child is deciding between this and a program with verified outcomes, that transparency gap deserves consideration.

Where Salem State University Stands

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

Salem State University (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (38 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Salem State UniversitySalem$11,978$57,299*—$26,500*—
Harvard UniversityCambridge$59,076$103,993*$124,570$6,617*0.06
Amherst CollegeAmherst$67,280$90,568*$127,636$16,662*0.18
Wellesley CollegeWellesley$64,320$86,367*$91,749$11,190*0.13
Williams CollegeWilliamstown$64,860$80,888*$115,082$12,925*0.16
Tufts UniversityMedford$67,844$75,125*$105,444$17,850*0.24
National Median—$51,722*—$22,816*0.44
* Estimated from similar programs

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 Salem State University, approximately 35% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 21 similar programs in MA. Actual outcomes may vary.