Economics at Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee economics graduates command salaries that outpace nearly every other Virginia school except UVA, hitting $110,050 by year four—a figure that doubles the state median and ranks in the 80th percentile statewide. That's $8,000 more than William & Mary grads and nearly $50,000 ahead of Virginia Tech. The 53% earnings jump between years one and four suggests graduates are landing positions with real advancement potential, not just high starting salaries that plateau.

The $23,399 in median debt sits right at the national average for economics programs, producing a comfortable 0.33 debt-to-income ratio. At this earnings level, loan repayment shouldn't strain household budgets. The school's 17% admission rate and 1504 average SAT signal you're competing with high-achieving students, which likely explains both the strong alumni network and the career outcomes—though the 11% Pell grant rate indicates limited socioeconomic diversity.

The main caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset means these figures could shift with a larger cohort. But even accounting for that uncertainty, the combination of manageable debt and elite-level earnings makes this one of Virginia's strongest economics programs by the numbers. If your student earned admission, the financial risk appears minimal relative to the likely payoff.