Median Earnings (1yr)
$71,191
94th percentile
80th percentile in Connecticut
Median Debt
$21,500
6% below national median

Analysis

Trinity College's economics program produces graduates who earn $71,191 their first yearβ€”$19,000 more than the Connecticut median and substantially ahead of UConn grads in the same field. More impressive is the trajectory: by year four, median earnings hit $113,000, a 58% jump that suggests strong career momentum. Within Connecticut, only Yale's economics program produces higher-earning graduates at the one-year mark, placing Trinity firmly in the state's top tier.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $21,500, graduates carry slightly less debt than both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.30β€”meaning first-year salary covers debt three times over. This combination of strong initial placement and manageable debt gives graduates unusual financial flexibility early in their careers.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means individual cohorts might vary, but the pattern is clear: Trinity's economics degree opens doors to higher-paying opportunities and provides the network or credential that accelerates advancement. For families willing to invest in a selective liberal arts college, this program delivers returns that justify the choice, particularly for students targeting finance, consulting, or similar fields where institutional reputation matters.

Where Trinity College Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Trinity College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Trinity College$71,191$112,699+58%
Yale University$82,617$125,006+51%
Connecticut College$62,732$86,772+38%
Fairfield University$74,023$81,906+11%
University of Connecticut$52,227$67,339+29%

Compare to Similar Programs in Connecticut

Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Connecticut (18 total in state)

Scroll to see more β†’

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Trinity CollegeHartford$67,420$71,191$112,699$21,5000.30
Yale UniversityNew Haven$64,700$82,617$125,006$13,2500.16
Fairfield UniversityFairfield$56,360$74,023$81,906$26,5000.36
Connecticut CollegeNew London$64,812$62,732$86,772$25,2060.40
University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford$17,452$52,227$67,339$22,9070.44
University of ConnecticutStorrs$20,366$52,227$67,339$22,9070.44
National Medianβ€”$51,722β€”$22,8160.44

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 Trinity College, approximately 15% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 62 graduates with reported earnings and 64 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.