Economics at University of Mary Washington

An economics degree from UMW starts about $10,000 behind the typical Virginia program, with first-year earnings of $45,153 falling in the bottom quarter both statewide and nationally. While the estimated $22,000 debt load—based on what similar Virginia programs produce—keeps the ratio manageable at 0.49, that's cold comfort when peer programs across the state consistently deliver better returns. JMU graduates earn $17,000 more in their first year, and even the state median sits nearly $10,000 higher.

The 44% earnings jump to $64,914 by year four is solid and suggests the degree has growth potential, but it's playing catch-up from a weak starting position. Economics programs typically open doors in finance, consulting, and analytics where employers recruit heavily from target schools. UMW's 86% admission rate and modest academic profile suggest it may not have the same recruiting pipelines or alumni networks as Virginia's flagship programs, which would explain why graduates trail their in-state peers so significantly from day one.

For families weighing this investment, the question is whether UMW's particular strengths—smaller classes, lower cost of attendance—offset starting $10,000 behind comparable graduates. The debt estimate seems reasonable given state patterns, but the earnings gap is real and persistent across the comparison set. If your student has the academic credentials (that 1241 SAT is competitive), exploring higher-ranked Virginia programs or schools with stronger economics placement records makes financial sense.