Best Colleges for Economics 2026
20 schools ranked by graduate earnings, real data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Top 20 Economics Programs by Graduate Earnings
| # | School | Earnings | Tuition | Accept Rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham, NC | $153,139 | $65,805 | 7% | 6,417 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $127,832 | $66,939 | 5% | 7,540 |
| 3 | Amherst College Amherst, MA | $127,636 | $67,280 | 10% | 1,907 |
| 4 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $127,416 | $62,484 | 4% | 7,841 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | $125,816 | $66,104 | 6% | 10,768 |
| 6 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | $125,751 | $65,280 | 10% | 2,785 |
| 7 | Yale University New Haven, CT | $125,006 | $64,700 | 5% | 6,811 |
| 8 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $124,570 | $59,076 | 3% | 7,755 |
| 9 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | $118,120 | $65,739 | 6% | 4,367 |
| 10 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $117,355 | $69,045 | 4% | 8,899 |
| 11 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $115,832 | $64,150 | 11% | 1,379 |
| 12 | Williams College Williamstown, MA | $115,082 | $64,860 | 10% | 2,060 |
| 13 | Trinity College Hartford, CT | $112,699 | $67,420 | 34% | 2,193 |
| 14 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | $110,050 | $64,525 | 17% | 1,884 |
| 15 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | $108,040 | $63,340 | 8% | 5,617 |
| 16 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $107,248 | $66,014 | 8% | 15,935 |
| 17 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $106,624 | $45,627 | 12% | 33,073 |
| 18 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL | $105,795 | $65,997 | 7% | 8,960 |
| 19 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA | $105,566 | $62,412 | 7% | 1,627 |
| 20 | Tufts University Medford, MA | $105,444 | $67,844 | 10% | 6,804 |
Economics is the study of how individuals, firms, and governments allocate scarce resources. Undergraduate programs cover microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, game theory, labor economics, and international trade. The major is quantitative at research universities, requiring proficiency in statistics and often calculus-based methods. It is widely regarded as strong preparation for finance, consulting, law, public policy, and graduate study.
Economics consistently ranks among the highest-earning humanities and social science degrees. Common career paths include financial analyst ($70,000–$100,000 starting), management consultant ($85,000–$110,000 at top firms), economic research analyst, policy analyst, and investment banking analyst. Wall Street and major consulting firms actively recruit economics majors from top programs. Graduate study in economics, law, or an MBA substantially increases earning potential further.
When choosing an economics program, evaluate the rigor and quantitative depth of the curriculum: programs that require econometrics and calculus-based micro and macro prepare students better for competitive employers and graduate schools. Research and thesis opportunities, access to economic research centers, and strong alumni networks in finance and consulting matter significantly. The earnings data on this page provides a school-level view of actual graduate outcomes, which is especially useful given how widely economics program quality varies across institutions.
Earnings shown are median graduate earnings 4 years after graduation (or 1 year if 4-year data is unavailable), sourced from the College Scorecard.See full major data
Explore All Economics Programs
See earnings data for all 351 schools offering Economics, including debt figures and graduate counts.
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Compare SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in an Economics program?
Look for programs with rigorous, quantitative curricula including econometrics, calculus-based microeconomics, and statistical methods: these are the skills finance, consulting, and graduate programs expect. Strong alumni networks in Wall Street, consulting, and policy, along with undergraduate research and thesis opportunities, are important differentiators at the top programs.
What careers can I pursue with an Economics degree?
Economics graduates work in investment banking, management consulting, financial analysis, economic research, public policy, and corporate strategy. The degree is also strong preparation for law school and MBA programs. Economists work in government agencies, central banks, think tanks, and international organizations like the IMF and World Bank.
How much do Economics graduates earn?
Economics is one of the highest-earning undergraduate degrees. Median starting salaries range from $60,000 to $90,000, with analysts at investment banks and top consulting firms starting at $85,000–$110,000 including bonus. The national median for economists with bachelor's degrees is around $75,000. The earnings data on this page reflects actual graduate outcomes from the College Scorecard.