Economics at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford

An economics degree from Pitt-Bradford won't land you in the same tax bracket as UPenn or Carnegie Mellon grads right away, but here's what matters: graduates see their earnings jump 28% by year four, climbing from $50,529 to nearly $65,000. That's solid momentum, especially considering the program ranks in the 40th percentile statewide—roughly middle-of-the-pack among Pennsylvania's 49 economics programs. With debt under $26,000 (actually better than 79% of economics programs nationally), the financial foundation is sound.

The tradeoff is clear: you're sacrificing the prestige and network of Pennsylvania's elite institutions, where graduates often start $20,000-40,000 higher. But you're also avoiding the crushing debt loads that can come with private education. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 means graduates owe about half their first year's salary—manageable on an economist's income, particularly as earnings rise.

For families prioritizing affordability over brand name, this program delivers functional economic training without derailing your finances. The 91% admission rate and strong Pell Grant population suggest accessibility is part of the mission. If your child is motivated and plans to leverage that four-year earnings growth into graduate school or a stronger position by their late twenties, the economics here makes sense—even if they won't be competing for Wall Street analyst roles straight out of college.