Economics at The College of Wooster

The four-year earnings figure tells the real story here: graduates of comparable Ohio economics programs earn around $51,500 in their first year but jump to $82,277 by year four—a 60% increase that outpaces most bachelor's programs. With estimated debt of $25,000, you're looking at a debt load roughly half the first-year salary, which clears comfortably in the early years and becomes negligible as earnings accelerate.

What's harder to gauge is where Wooster specifically fits within Ohio's economics landscape. The top programs in the state—John Carroll, Oberlin, Cincinnati—report first-year earnings from $58,000 to $65,000, suggesting Wooster's positioning matters. The school's 1370 average SAT and selective (though not highly selective) 54% admission rate indicate a solid student body, but whether that translates to placement advantages in Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati financial sectors isn't captured in these estimates drawn from peer institutions.

The debt-to-earnings picture based on similar programs suggests manageable risk, particularly given economics graduates' typical earnings trajectory. But you're making this decision without knowing how Wooster's specific alumni network, recruiting relationships, or curriculum translate to outcomes. If your child is comparing offers, look hard at where previous graduates landed jobs and whether those employers align with your child's goals—that career services data will tell you more than these statewide estimates can.