Economics at SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase College's economics program shows dramatically different outcomes depending on when you measure—and with a sample size under 30 graduates, these numbers are particularly uncertain. That first-year earning of $34,297 sits in the bottom 10% of New York economics programs, roughly $16,000 below the state median. Among the 74 schools offering economics degrees in New York, only a handful produce worse immediate outcomes.

The 100% earnings jump by year four is striking, but context matters: even at $68,731, graduates are still earning less than the typical economics graduate makes right after graduation at most New York programs. The debt load of $23,250 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, but that's small comfort when those earnings are so low. Meanwhile, the state's top performers—Barnard, Cornell, Columbia—are placing graduates at $80,000+ immediately.

With such a small sample, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few outliers. Perhaps this program serves students entering fields with delayed payoffs, or maybe graduates are pursuing additional education before entering higher-paying roles. What's clear is that families banking on the typical economics degree trajectory—solid starting salary with steady growth—aren't seeing that here in the early years. If you're considering this program, understand you're likely looking at several years of below-market earnings before potentially catching up.