Economics at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

University of New Hampshire economics graduates earn less than at any other New Hampshire program despite carrying above-average debt for the state. While first-year earnings of $54,328 beat the national median by $2,600, they fall dramatically short of the state's $69,807 median—placing UNH in the bottom quarter of New Hampshire economics programs. This gap is particularly striking given that even Southern New Hampshire University, with its 91% admission rate, matches the state median that UNH can't reach.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $25,897, it's manageable relative to first-year earnings and well below the national median. Graduates see solid 22% earnings growth to $66,335 by year four, suggesting the degree develops marketable skills over time. However, they're still earning less at that point than peers from other New Hampshire programs make straight out of college.

For New Hampshire families, this creates a difficult calculus. If you're paying in-state tuition, the reasonable debt load makes this affordable, but your child will likely earn $15,000-$40,000 less annually than economics graduates from other state programs. Out-of-state families should think hard about whether UNH's premium tuition makes sense when the program trails both Dartmouth and SNHU significantly in graduate outcomes.