Best Schools for Business/Managerial Economics

Business/Managerial Economics graduates earn a median of $81,110 within four years of graduating, ranking #78 out of 283 tracked majors — 30% above the median across all fields. There are 105 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 4,395 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Washington University in St Louis graduates earn $162,355 while Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduates earn $56,001 — a $106,354 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Business/Managerial Economics graduates see an average 6% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

105

Schools

$81,110

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#78

of 283 Majors

4,395

Graduates

Public vs Private: Business/Managerial Economics

Public (73 schools)

$76,746

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (32 schools)

$92,913

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $16,167 more in early earnings on average for Business/Managerial Economics graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Business/Managerial Economics by State

Also by state: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Business/Managerial Economics Schools by Graduate Earnings

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · Private

$162,355

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

1yr: $88,712 (18)

Acceptance: 12.0%

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL · Private

Union College

Schenectady, NY · Private

$114,064

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 43.8%

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

Bentley University

Waltham, MA · Private

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$102,249

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH · Public

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public

$97,743

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$95,271

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $57,318 (28)

Acceptance: 57.0%

#14

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$93,379

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 89.1%

#17

Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ · Private

$92,079

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD · Public

$91,642

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 88.6%

#19

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, GA · Public

$86,894

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$84,978

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, CA · Private

Baylor University

Waco, TX · Private

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA · Public

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

Capital University

Columbus, OH · Private

$84,669

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Beloit College

Beloit, WI · Private

$84,668

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

2yr: $38,289 (17)

Acceptance: 57.4%

#31

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH · Private

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York, NY · Public

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private

$81,897

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public

$81,799

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 74.0%

#38

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO · Private

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$80,415

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL · Private

Xavier University

Cincinnati, OH · Private

$80,165

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $44,089 (22)

Acceptance: 87.7%

#43

Wofford College

Spartanburg, SC · Private

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$78,740

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID · Public

$78,254

4yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public

Belmont University

Nashville, TN · Private

$76,276

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 96.4%

#50

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY · Public

$75,845

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

2yr: $42,682 (24)

1yr: $35,891 (16)

Acceptance: 80.5%

Showing top 50 of 105 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Finance and Financial Management Services $50,463 Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians $50,439 Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications $49,941 Physical Sciences $49,464 Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians $49,118 Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other $48,569

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Business/Managerial Economics?

Washington University in St Louis ranks #1 for Business/Managerial Economics with median graduate earnings of $162,355 within four years of graduating. There are 105 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Business/Managerial Economics graduates earn?

Business/Managerial Economics graduates earn an average of $81,110 within four years of graduating. This is 30% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $56,001 to $162,355 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Business/Managerial Economics program?

The average acceptance rate across Business/Managerial Economics programs is 71.6%. The most selective program is at University of California-Los Angeles with a 8.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Business/Managerial Economics?

Private Business/Managerial Economics programs average $92,913 in early earnings vs $76,746 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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