U.S. median for this major: $79,489.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 12% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,907.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $83,532. College Scorecard.
Bates College Economics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Economics nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Bates College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $2,397 | $9,756 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $8,958 | $36,459 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $11,336 | $46,138 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $19,468 | $79,235 | 1.1 years |
| $110k+ | $45,886 | $186,756 | 2.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (85% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Economics graduates 4 years after graduating ($110,880) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ME (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $74,219 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Economics at Maine colleges
Every Maine college we cover that reports Economics graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowdoin College | $121,983 | $19,500 | $14,398 | 95% |
| 2 | Bates College | $110,880 | $13,000 | $29,351 | 90% |
| 3 | Colby College | $103,491 | $24,250 | $17,180 | 89% |
| 4 | University of Maine | $65,097 | $22,984 | $17,510 | 55% |
1 more Maine college offers Economics but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Economics graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Bates College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Bates College
- Acceptance rate: 13% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 90% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,498
- Full cost breakdown · all 32 majors · overview
Bates College Economics questions
How much do Bates College Economics graduates earn?
Economics graduates of Bates College earn a median $110,880 four years after graduating and $71,187 one year after. The U.S. median for Economics graduates across 368 colleges is $79,489.
How much debt do Bates College Economics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Economics graduates of Bates College is $13,000, about 12% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,907.
Is Bates College a good school for Economics in Maine?
On pay, Economics graduates of Bates College earn $110,880 four years out, $3,694 above the median for the same major across 4 Maine colleges ($107,186) and $31,391 above the U.S. median ($79,489). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Bates College rank for Economics in Maine?
Of 4 Maine colleges reporting Economics graduate earnings, Bates College ranks 2nd. The highest is Bowdoin College at $121,983.
What jobs do Economics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $64,110 in the Lewiston-Auburn, ME area and $72,040 nationally. Others include market research analysts and marketing specialists and data scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Bates College Economics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/bates-college/majors/economics (College Scorecard and BLS data).