Economics at University of the Pacific

An economics degree from University of the Pacific comes with estimated first-year earnings around $51,200—right at California's median for the field—while projected debt of $21,500 sits above the state's typical $16,800. These figures come from comparable programs across California since the school's specific graduate outcomes aren't publicly reported due to small sample sizes. The resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 suggests manageable repayment, though not the financial home run that economics degrees from California's elite universities can deliver.

The gap between Pacific and the state's top performers is substantial. Stanford economics graduates start around $98,000, Berkeley at $80,000, and even regional competitor Santa Clara posts $76,600. Pacific's wide-open admissions (95% acceptance rate) and solid SAT profile (1303) position it as an accessible option for students who need a path to an economics degree, but the estimated earnings suggest you're not buying into the same alumni networks or employer pipelines that boost outcomes at more selective schools.

For families, the question is whether a straightforward debt-to-earnings picture justifies passing up potentially stronger returns elsewhere. If your child can gain admission to a UC campus or one of California's competitive liberal arts colleges, the earnings data—even if estimated—suggests those programs may deliver better financial outcomes. Pacific works as a safety net, but understand you're likely paying private school prices for outcomes that mirror the state average.