Best Schools for Economics

Economics graduates earn a median of $48,479 within two years of graduation, ranking #79 out of 292 tracked majors — 37% above the median across all fields. There are 413 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 27,888 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates earn $110,878 while University of Redlands graduates earn $20,373 — a $90,505 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Economics graduates see an average 3% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

413

Schools

$48,479

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#79

of 292 Majors

27,888

Graduates

Public vs Private: Economics

Public (219 schools)

$43,341

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (193 schools)

$54,257

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $10,916 more in early earnings on average for Economics graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Economics by State

Top Economics Schools by Graduate Earnings

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

$110,878

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 4.7%

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ · Private

Duke University

Durham, NC · Private

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA · Private

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

Stanford University

Stanford, CA · Private

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · Private

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA · Private

Pomona College

Claremont, CA · Private

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA · Private

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

Middlebury College

Middlebury, VT · Private

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD · Private

Georgetown University

Washington, DC · Private

Amherst College

Amherst, MA · Private

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY · Private

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA · Private

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN · Private

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

Brown University

Providence, RI · Private

Emory University

Atlanta, GA · Private

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Trinity College

Hartford, CT · Private

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, IL · Private

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

Showing top 50 of 413 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications $50,277 Physical Sciences $49,464 Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians $49,118 Business/Managerial Economics $48,930 Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other $48,569 Agricultural Mechanization $48,267

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Economics?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks #1 for Economics with median graduate earnings of $110,878 within two years. There are 413 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Economics graduates earn?

Economics graduates earn an average of $48,479 within two years of graduation. This is 37% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $20,373 to $110,878 depending on the school.

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

The average acceptance rate across Economics programs is 62.4%. The most selective program is at Harvard University with a 3.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Economics?

Private Economics programs average $54,257 in early earnings vs $43,341 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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