U.S. median for this major: $79,489.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 15% 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 $83,440. College Scorecard.
Grinnell 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 Grinnell 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 | $9,970 | $41,575 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $7,789 | $32,480 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $9,669 | $40,320 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $19,348 | $80,681 | 1.1 years |
| $110k+ | $37,725 | $157,313 | 2.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (74% 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 ($110,724) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $74,063 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Grinnell College | $110,724 | $16,950 | $17,648 | 88% |
| 2 | Drake University | $88,638 | — | $29,127 | 74% |
| 3 | University of Iowa | $76,746 | $22,407 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 4 | Iowa State University | $75,355 | $23,414 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 5 | University of Northern Iowa | $71,905 | $17,169 | $15,901 | 68% |
12 more Iowa colleges offer Economics but have 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 Grinnell College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Grinnell College
- Acceptance rate: 15% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 88% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,830
- Full cost breakdown · all 31 majors · overview
Grinnell College Economics questions
How much do Grinnell College Economics graduates earn?
Economics graduates of Grinnell College earn a median $110,724 four years after graduating and $46,791 one year after. The U.S. median for Economics graduates across 368 colleges is $79,489.
How much debt do Grinnell College Economics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Economics graduates of Grinnell College is $16,950, about 15% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,907.
Is Grinnell College a good school for Economics in Iowa?
On pay, Economics graduates of Grinnell College earn $110,724 four years out, $33,978 above the median for the same major across 5 Iowa colleges ($76,746) and $31,235 above the U.S. median ($79,489). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Grinnell College rank for Economics in Iowa?
Of 5 Iowa colleges reporting Economics graduate earnings, Grinnell College ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Economics graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $61,200 in Iowa 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: “Grinnell College Economics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grinnell-college/majors/economics (College Scorecard and BLS data).