by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 43 U.S. colleges awarded 410 degrees and certificates in Development Economics & International Development. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 58% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Development Economics & International Development Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $56,341 one year after completing, rising to $87,817 after four years.
A major in Development Economics & International Development involves the study of Development Economics And International Development. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of The Economic Development Process And Its Application To The Problems Of Specific Countries And Regions. Includes Instruction In Economic Development Theory, Industrialization, Land Reform, Infrastructural Development, Investment Policy, The Role Of Governments And Business In Development, International Development Organizations, And The Study Of Social, Health, And Environmental Influences On Economic Development.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., development economics & international development is a widely-pursued major, with 410 degrees awarded annually. 43 colleges award development economics & international development degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 111.
By level, the 410 awards include 239 bachelor’s degrees, 166 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of development economics & international development degrees and certificates in the latest year (269 of 410). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (131) and Hispanic or Latino (72), and international students earned 118.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Development Economics & International Development Schools ranking, including 9 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks development economics & international development schools within 7 states. In all, 43 colleges offer development economics & international development programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Development Economics & International Development Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common development economics & international development credential is the bachelor’s degree: 239 of the 410 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to development economics & international development call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a development economics & international development degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 239 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 166 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to development economics & international development, at 35.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Development Economics & International Development, with an average median salary of $101,823; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Economics Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer and Economics Assistant Professor.
The occupation related to development economics & international development with the most projected jobs is Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 830,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Development Economics & International Development graduates earn a median $56,341 one year after completing their program, $87,817 after four years and $88,018 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,341 |
| 4 years | $87,817 |
| 5 years | $88,018 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to development economics & international development is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
Development Economics & International Development has 5 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 47,786 degrees a year; the largest are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (25,410), Economics, General (21,619) and Applied Economics (400). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 25,410 |
| Economics, General | 21,619 |
| Applied Economics | 400 |
| International Economics | 206 |
| Economics, Other | 151 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
