Economics at Transylvania University

Transylvania's economics program sits squarely in the middle of Kentucky's economics landscape, with peer programs in the state suggesting first-year earnings around $51,000—essentially matching both state and national medians for the field. The estimated $24,100 in debt is actually below both state and national benchmarks for economics degrees, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that suggests manageable repayment. For context, Centre College graduates with similar economics programs earn about the same, while Western Kentucky outperforms and University of Kentucky underperforms despite its flagship status.

The caveat here is significant: both earnings and debt figures are estimates derived from comparable programs because Transylvania's graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to publish. This means we're working with educated guesses rather than demonstrated outcomes. The school's selectivity (1285 average SAT) and low Pell enrollment suggest it serves a relatively advantaged student body, which could mean actual outcomes differ from state averages.

If your child is choosing Transylvania specifically for its small-college experience rather than purely for economics outcomes, the estimated financial picture doesn't raise red flags. But if maximizing return on an economics degree is the priority, verify these estimates by contacting the department directly for placement data—and compare seriously against Kentucky's public universities, which may offer similar or better outcomes at lower cost.