U.S. median for this major: $79,489.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 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 23% 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 $85,420. College Scorecard.
Colby 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 Colby 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 | $4,049 | $16,641 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $1,251 | $5,142 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $3,666 | $15,067 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $12,106 | $49,756 | under 1 year |
| $110k+ | $46,511 | $191,160 | 2.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (82% 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 ($103,491) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ME (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $66,830 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 Colby College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Colby College
- Acceptance rate: 7% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 89% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $80,490
- Full cost breakdown · all 38 majors · overview
Colby College Economics questions
How much do Colby College Economics graduates earn?
Economics graduates of Colby College earn a median $103,491 four years after graduating and $76,401 one year after. The U.S. median for Economics graduates across 368 colleges is $79,489.
How much debt do Colby College Economics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Economics graduates of Colby College is $24,250, about 23% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,907.
Is Colby College a good school for Economics in Maine?
On pay, Economics graduates of Colby College earn $103,491 four years out, $3,695 below the median for the same major across 4 Maine colleges ($107,186) and $24,002 above the U.S. median ($79,489). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Colby College rank for Economics in Maine?
Of 4 Maine colleges reporting Economics graduate earnings, Colby College ranks 3rd. 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 $64,880 in Maine and $72,040 nationally. Others include market research analysts and marketing specialists and data scientists.
Is Colby College the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Colby College with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Colby College Economics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/colby-college/majors/economics (College Scorecard and BLS data).