Best Colleges for Economics

Economics graduates enter a field with strong earning potential, with the average graduate earning $48,483 annually. This versatile degree opens doors to careers in finance, consulting, government, and research. When evaluating economics programs, students should prioritize schools with strong quantitative training, experienced faculty who publish current research, and strong internship networks with employers. Look for programs that emphasize both theoretical foundations and practical application through case studies and real-world projects. Access to research opportunities and career services can significantly impact post-graduation success. With 414 schools offering economics majors nationwide, students have numerous options to find programs that align with their career goals and learning preferences.

Schools Ranked

$80,651

Avg. Program Earnings

94.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$110,878	96.1%	private-nonprofit
2	Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	$103,078	97.1%	private-nonprofit
3	Duke University Durham, North Carolina	$90,856	95.8%	private-nonprofit
4	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California	$87,754	95.2%	private-nonprofit
5	Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire	$87,604	96.0%	private-nonprofit
6	Yale University New Haven, Connecticut	$86,621	96.3%	private-nonprofit
7	University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois	$85,637	94.9%	private-nonprofit
8	Stanford University Stanford, California	$85,391	92.8%	private-nonprofit
9	Swarthmore College Swarthmore, Pennsylvania	$81,702	94.1%	private-nonprofit
10	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$79,419	95.0%	private-nonprofit
11	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$78,971	97.3%	private-nonprofit
12	Pomona College Claremont, California	$77,213	93.2%	private-nonprofit
13	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$77,087	96.8%	private-nonprofit
14	Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts	$76,460	91.2%	private-nonprofit
15	Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	$76,460	96.6%	private-nonprofit
16	Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont	$75,518	92.6%	private-nonprofit
17	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, Maryland	$75,047	94.6%	private-nonprofit
18	Georgetown University Washington, District of Columbia	$74,702	94.3%	private-nonprofit
19	Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts	$74,576	93.4%	private-nonprofit
20	Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois	$73,035	95.9%	private-nonprofit
21	Rice University Houston, Texas	$72,884	95.7%	private-nonprofit
22	Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	$72,134	92.7%	private-nonprofit
23	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	$71,778	93.3%	private-nonprofit
24	Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine	$71,015	95.6%	private-nonprofit
25	Barnard College New York, New York	$70,456	92.9%	private-nonprofit