Economics

39,308 students earn a economics credential each year across 805 US colleges. Earnings below are the median for each school's graduates one and five years after finishing; debt is the median federal loan balance at completion.

Typical earnings, 1 year out: $51,815
Typical earnings, 5 years out: $77,945

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Highest earnings Most graduates

Bachelor's programs — top 100 of 698 colleges by graduate earnings

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Harvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts258$103,9931 year out$161,251$6,617 2Princeton UniversityPrinceton, New Jersey132$103,0411 year out—$11,250 3Duke UniversityDurham, North Carolina199$98,6491 year out$171,986$13,437 4Stanford UniversityStanford, California112$98,1041 year out$148,692$12,500 5Dartmouth CollegeHanover, New Hampshire196$94,6751 year out$153,295$18,400 6University of ChicagoChicago, Illinois622$92,0751 year out$157,181$13,197 7Amherst CollegeAmherst, Massachusetts69$90,5681 year out$150,151$16,662 8Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, California124$89,5051 year out$151,744$12,000 9University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania238$89,0971 year out$152,236$14,000 10Wellesley CollegeWellesley, Massachusetts97$86,3671 year out$107,567$11,190 11Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania55$86,2841 year out$132,407$22,020 12Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, Vermont106$85,8791 year out$150,031$19,500 13Barnard CollegeNew York, New York104$85,8601 year out$136,964$16,750 14Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York157$84,9671 year out$129,667$15,500 15Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois373$84,9321 year out$125,639$16,227 16Georgetown UniversityWashington, District of Columbia184$84,4601 year out—$16,500 17Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Tennessee286$84,3111 year out$128,449$12,424 18Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, New York360$83,1351 year out$134,398$25,000 19Yale UniversityNew Haven, Connecticut182$82,6171 year out$131,171$13,250 20Williams CollegeWilliamstown, Massachusetts134$80,8881 year out$150,862$12,925 21University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, California909$80,4461 year out$125,636$13,000 22Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, New York59$79,8451 year out$103,043$19,000 23Rice UniversityHouston, Texas88$78,8141 year out$104,828$11,289 24Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland140$78,1811 year out$145,452$12,494 25Colgate UniversityHamilton, New York147$77,2741 year out$130,139$17,500 26Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, Pennsylvania76$76,9441 year out$136,021$19,500 27Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, California77$76,6061 year out$128,642$19,500 28Colby CollegeWaterville, Maine94$76,4011 year out$142,245$24,250 29University of Notre DameNotre Dame, Indiana256$76,2991 year out$120,257$19,965 30Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, Maine85$75,8671 year out$122,126$19,500 31Tufts UniversityMedford, Massachusetts217$75,1251 year out$126,124$17,850 32University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, Virginia492$74,9581 year out$95,941$19,000 33Fairfield UniversityFairfield, Connecticut52$74,0231 year out$97,565$26,500 34Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, Massachusetts335$72,0991 year out$112,774$18,000 35Brown UniversityProvidence, Rhode Island179$72,0641 year out$112,306$13,000 36Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, Virginia67$71,7371 year out$145,820$23,399 37Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, Texas139$71,6301 year out$96,927$19,500 38Smith CollegeNorthampton, Massachusetts45$71,5591 year out$74,557$19,000 39Hamilton CollegeClinton, New York97$71,3501 year out$108,312$18,250 40Emory UniversityAtlanta, Georgia158$71,3401 year out$104,633$21,000 41Trinity CollegeHartford, Connecticut93$71,1911 year out$123,096$21,500 42Bates CollegeLewiston, Maine65$71,1871 year out$108,673$13,000 43Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania53$70,9671 year out$97,544$29,000 44Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, Pennsylvania121$70,9461 year out$101,580$25,888 45Northeastern UniversityBoston, Massachusetts169$70,5311 year out$98,280$24,500 46Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston, Massachusetts2$70,5311 year out$98,280$24,500 47Northeastern University OaklandOakland, California0$70,5311 year out$98,280$24,500 48Pomona CollegeClaremont, California67$70,0511 year out$131,742—49Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, New Hampshire83$69,8071 year out$113,138$19,500 50Providence CollegeProvidence, Rhode Island53$69,3641 year out$105,070$26,000 51Elon UniversityElon, North Carolina37$69,2981 year out$95,431$19,500 52College of the Holy CrossWorcester, Massachusetts130$69,2881 year out$118,102$27,000 53New York UniversityNew York, New York540$68,4951 year out$105,120$21,250 54University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, Michigan608$68,4161 year out$108,627$19,690 55Lafayette CollegeEaston, Pennsylvania100$68,1641 year out$106,100$19,500 56George Washington UniversityWashington, District of Columbia112$67,6841 year out$104,484$23,250 57California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, California59$67,5011 year out$89,394$18,500 58Villanova UniversityVillanova, Pennsylvania112$67,0651 year out$100,245$27,000 59Carleton CollegeNorthfield, Minnesota37$66,5671 year out$107,997$19,500 60University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California696$66,3341 year out$107,948$13,516 61Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, Missouri118$66,3251 year out$79,278$14,110 62William & MaryWilliamsburg, Virginia122$65,6031 year out$86,782$19,678 63University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina443$65,3441 year out$96,785$15,843 64John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights, Ohio30$65,0981 year out$79,864$27,000 65St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, Minnesota15$64,9161 year out—$30,215 66Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, California73$64,8851 year out$80,191$25,590 67University of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah221$64,3861 year out$80,323$16,642 68University of RochesterRochester, New York104$63,4751 year out$102,906$19,946 69DePauw UniversityGreencastle, Indiana39$63,3951 year out$97,814$26,978 70Brigham Young UniversityProvo, Utah159$63,3321 year out$98,908$11,000 71Whitworth UniversitySpokane, Washington20$63,1341 year out——72Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, Pennsylvania56$62,9251 year out$103,735$27,000 73Wheaton CollegeWheaton, Illinois31$62,8891 year out—$21,000 74Union CollegeSchenectady, New York66$62,8461 year out$113,427$27,000 75Connecticut CollegeNew London, Connecticut75$62,7321 year out$109,560$25,206 76James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, Virginia58$62,2861 year out$96,390$18,575 77The College of New JerseyEwing, New Jersey25$62,2181 year out$77,796$23,500 78University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, California830$62,0911 year out$100,784$15,000 79Hobart William Smith CollegesGeneva, New York51$61,9461 year out$84,370$27,000 80Oberlin CollegeOberlin, Ohio58$61,7131 year out$93,318$25,000 81University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, Virginia55$61,0271 year out$122,879$23,000 82Utah State UniversityLogan, Utah329$60,4721 year out$88,162$15,250 83University of St ThomasSaint Paul, Minnesota61$60,3231 year out$78,183$24,600 84Spelman CollegeAtlanta, Georgia34$59,9071 year out$81,070$27,000 85Pitzer CollegeClaremont, California19$59,7671 year out——86Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, Minnesota61$59,7521 year out$97,301$24,000 87Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, Indiana122$59,1871 year out$81,285$24,700 88Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, Indiana74$59,1421 year out$86,586$20,500 89Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, Pennsylvania22$59,1221 year out$86,366$25,298 90Assumption UniversityWorcester, Massachusetts7$58,9541 year out—$27,000 91University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, Illinois315$58,9211 year out$91,191$21,228 92The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas294$58,7171 year out$97,244$21,125 93University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, Maryland320$58,6501 year out$86,897$20,097 94University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, Ohio84$58,5901 year out—$21,264 95The University of the SouthSewanee, Tennessee45$58,5321 year out$77,878$24,798 96American UniversityWashington, District of Columbia71$58,1511 year out$77,219$22,625 97Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, Colorado84$58,0821 year out$84,600$18,250 98Kenyon CollegeGambier, Ohio61$58,0821 year out$85,978$18,718 99University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, California23$58,0461 year out$87,378$21,500 100St Lawrence UniversityCanton, New York71$57,8291 year out$82,561$26,000

Associate programs — top 100 of 108 colleges by graduate earnings

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara, California179—1 year out——2Pasadena City CollegePasadena, California176—1 year out——3Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon, California173—1 year out——4Moorpark CollegeMoorpark, California162—1 year out——5West Valley CollegeSaratoga, California133—1 year out——6Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach, California127—1 year out——7Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills, California125—1 year out——8Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen, California117—1 year out——9Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo, California111—1 year out——10Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, California94—1 year out——11Evergreen Valley CollegeSan Jose, California84—1 year out——12American River CollegeSacramento, California70—1 year out——13El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance, California69—1 year out——14Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo, California68—1 year out——15De Anza CollegeCupertino, California66—1 year out——16Folsom Lake CollegeFolsom, California66—1 year out——17College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita, California63—1 year out——18East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey Park, California62—1 year out——19Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, California58—1 year out——20Sierra CollegeRocklin, California57—1 year out——21Las Positas CollegeLivermore, California55—1 year out——22Cabrillo CollegeAptos, California50—1 year out——23Ohlone CollegeFremont, California48—1 year out——24Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, California48—1 year out——25Mission CollegeSanta Clara, California43—1 year out——26College of San MateoSan Mateo, California43—1 year out——27Orange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa, California42—1 year out——28Oxnard CollegeOxnard, California38—1 year out——29Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictSan Jacinto, California35—1 year out——30Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine, California33—1 year out——31Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, California33—1 year out——32Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, California32—1 year out——33Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster, California30—1 year out——34Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, California28—1 year out——35Blinn College DistrictBrenham, Texas28—1 year out——36Chabot CollegeHayward, California27—1 year out——37Canada CollegeRedwood City, California26—1 year out——38Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga, California26—1 year out——39Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills, California25—1 year out——40Fullerton CollegeFullerton, California25—1 year out——41Glendale Community CollegeGlendale, California25—1 year out——42Hartnell CollegeSalinas, California24—1 year out——43Ventura CollegeVentura, California24—1 year out——44Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, California23—1 year out——45Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, California23—1 year out——46City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, California22—1 year out——47Cuyamaca CollegeEl Cajon, California19—1 year out——48Cypress CollegeCypress, California19—1 year out——49Skyline CollegeSan Bruno, California19—1 year out——50Clovis Community CollegeFresno, California19—1 year out——51Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, California18—1 year out——52San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego, California18—1 year out——53Woodland Community CollegeWoodland, California18—1 year out——54Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, California17—1 year out——55CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeNew York, New York16—1 year out——56Sacramento City CollegeSacramento, California14—1 year out——57San Jose City CollegeSan Jose, California14—1 year out——58Santa Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa, California14—1 year out——59Santa Ana CollegeSanta Ana, California13—1 year out——60Fresno City CollegeFresno, California12—1 year out——61San Diego Miramar CollegeSan Diego, California12—1 year out——62Butte CollegeOroville, California11—1 year out——63Citrus CollegeGlendora, California11—1 year out——64Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, California11—1 year out——65West Los Angeles CollegeCulver City, California10—1 year out——66Austin Community College DistrictAustin, Texas10—1 year out——67Imperial Valley CollegeImperial, California9—1 year out——68College of MarinKentfield, California9—1 year out——69Rio Hondo CollegeWhittier, California9—1 year out——70Reedley CollegeReedley, California8—1 year out——71Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, California8—1 year out——72Riverside City CollegeRiverside, California8—1 year out——73Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, California8—1 year out——74Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipa, California7—1 year out——75College of the DesertPalm Desert, California7—1 year out——76Merritt CollegeOakland, California7—1 year out——77San Diego City CollegeSan Diego, California6—1 year out——78College of the SequoiasVisalia, California6—1 year out——79Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, Mississippi6—1 year out——80Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, California5—1 year out——81Gavilan CollegeGilroy, California5—1 year out——82Laney CollegeOakland, California5—1 year out——83Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, California5—1 year out——84San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, California5—1 year out——85Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree, California5—1 year out——86Solano Community CollegeFairfield, California4—1 year out——87Tyler Junior CollegeTyler, Texas4—1 year out——88Salt Lake Community CollegeSalt Lake City, Utah4—1 year out——89College of Southern IdahoTwin Falls, Idaho3—1 year out——90Mesa Community CollegeMesa, Arizona2—1 year out——91Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale, Arizona2—1 year out——92College of AlamedaAlameda, California2—1 year out——93Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles, California2—1 year out——94Mendocino CollegeUkiah, California2—1 year out——95Taft CollegeTaft, California2—1 year out——96Yuba CollegeMarysville, California2—1 year out——97Lansing Community CollegeLansing, Michigan2—1 year out——98Snow CollegeEphraim, Utah2—1 year out——99Casper CollegeCasper, Wyoming2—1 year out——100Madera Community CollegeMadera, California2—1 year out——

Certificate programs — 10 colleges

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Davidson CollegeDavidson, North Carolina—$70,7851 year out$124,368$22,625 2University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, Wisconsin20—1 year out——3Purdue University Fort WayneFort Wayne, Indiana7—1 year out——4Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley, California6—1 year out——5University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, Massachusetts5—1 year out——6University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, Missouri3—1 year out——7Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania2—1 year out——8Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, Missouri1—1 year out——9University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, Wisconsin1—1 year out——10University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado——1 year out$87,570—

US Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data (4-digit CIP). Graduates are conferrals in the most recent IPEDS year; earnings cover federally-aided completers who are working and not enrolled; medians for small programs are privacy-suppressed (—).