Economics at Skidmore College

Skidmore's selective economics program shows stronger mid-career momentum than initial outcomes, with earnings jumping from an estimated $50,000 in year one to $74,125 by year four. That trajectory matters, though parents should know the early figure comes from comparable economics programs across New York rather than Skidmore's own graduates—the school's cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report specific data.

The estimated $25,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio, half what borrowers owe relative to what they earn in year one. By year four, when earnings have climbed substantially, those monthly payments become even more affordable. Other selective New York schools like Barnard and Cornell report first-year earnings in the $80,000+ range for their economics graduates, suggesting this tier of institution can deliver stronger immediate outcomes, though Skidmore's year-four figure shows competitive catching up.

For an anxious parent, the takeaway is this: Skidmore's economics graduates appear to do well eventually, but you're making decisions with limited program-specific data. The mid-career earnings are solid and the estimated debt reasonable, but if maximizing early earning power matters—particularly given Skidmore's highly selective admissions and the alternative programs available in New York—you'll want to dig into where recent graduates actually landed and whether the school's career services deliver the connections that translate a good liberal arts economics degree into strong initial opportunities.