Location: Sweet Briar, VA•In-State Tuition: $25,110•Admission Rate: 72%•Avg SAT: 1227
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$54,643
Est. from VA median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,399
Est. from VA median (3 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable economics programs in Virginia, Sweet Briar's graduates can expect to earn around $54,600 in their first year—right at the state median but trailing significantly behind Virginia's elite institutions, where early earnings often exceed $70,000. The estimated $23,400 in debt yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, which is manageable by most standards and aligns closely with both state and national norms for economics degrees. However, that 30% earnings gap compared to UVA or Washington and Lee is substantial and compounds over a career.

The challenge for parents is that these figures come from peer programs across Virginia, not Sweet Briar's own graduates. Given the small graduate cohort, there's inherent uncertainty about whether this school's specific outcomes match state averages. Economics degrees generally offer solid returns, and the debt load here won't be crushing, but the earnings potential appears middling for Virginia's competitive landscape.

If your child is choosing Sweet Briar for fit, financial aid, or other personal reasons, the economics degree shouldn't derail those plans—the numbers suggest a reasonable, if unspectacular, investment. But if they're choosing based purely on economics career prospects, programs at JMU, William & Mary, or other state schools might deliver stronger returns with similar or lower debt. The key is understanding that you're buying into a small liberal arts experience where individualized attention may matter more than the credential's immediate market value.

Where Sweet Briar College Stands

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

Sweet Briar College (estimated ±10%)Other economics programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Virginia

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Virginia (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Sweet Briar CollegeSweet Briar$25,110$54,643*—$23,399*—
University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville$20,986$74,958*$80,369$19,000*0.25
Washington and Lee UniversityLexington$64,525$71,737*$110,050$23,399*0.33
William & MaryWilliamsburg$25,040$65,603*$72,419$19,678*0.30
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg$13,576$62,286*$86,390$18,575*0.30
University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond$62,600$61,027*$102,501$23,000*0.38
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 Sweet Briar College, approximately 31% 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 12 similar programs in VA. Actual outcomes may vary.