Economics at Amherst College
Amherst, MA · Bachelor's Degree · about 69 graduates a year
Amherst College graduates in economics earn 71% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 12% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Amherst College Compares for Economics
All 368 colleges reporting economics earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams College Williamstown, MA | $166,678 | $146,777 | #5 | $80,888 |
| 2 | Duke University Durham, NC | $161,149 | $172,936 | #1 | $98,649 |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | $160,763 | $141,099 | #6 | $103,041 |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $159,578 | $156,784 | #2 | $92,075 |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $155,592 | $137,015 | #8 | $103,993 |
| 6 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | $152,929 | $140,863 | #7 | $94,675 |
| 7 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $146,524 | $133,327 | #9 | $89,505 |
| 8 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $144,886 | $147,350 | #4 | $86,284 |
| 9 | Yale University New Haven, CT | $142,936 | $128,688 | #17 | $82,617 |
| 10 | Amherst College Amherst, MA | $141,730 | $124,808 | #19 | $90,568 |
| 11 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | $140,337 | $153,303 | #3 | $84,311 |
| 12 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $137,935 | $131,286 | #13 | $84,967 |
| 13 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $137,710 | $131,071 | #14 | $83,135 |
Other Majors at Amherst College by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $142,680 | $100,596 | #40 of 349 |
| Mathematics | $124,324 | $78,500 | #11 of 309 |
| History | $103,601 | $56,444 | #4 of 459 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $69,204 | $45,786 | #14 of 82 |
| Area Studies | $68,618 | $49,149 | #14 of 70 |
| English Language and Literature | $65,195 | $41,979 | #26 of 576 |
| Political Science and Government | $63,754 | $61,125 | #237 of 565 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $60,212 | $49,322 | #73 of 225 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | $40,120 | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | — | $38,387 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Amherst College economics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $90,568 one year after graduating and $141,730 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Amherst College rank for economics?
Among 368 colleges reporting earnings for economics graduates, Amherst College ranks #10 by median pay four years after graduation, and #19 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is economics at Amherst College worth it?
Its graduates earn 71% more than the national median for economics ($82,686), and the median federal debt at graduation is $16,662.
← All data for Amherst College · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.