Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 375 schools to find the best for economics students.
Leading the list is Harvard University, our #1 school for economics. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 278 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $103,993 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,617 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at Harvard University
Vanderbilt University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 205 economics students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $84,311 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans.
Get the full economics details for Vanderbilt University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for economics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 654 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $92,075 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of Chicago
Princeton University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Princeton University awarded about 122 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Princeton University earn around $103,041 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at Princeton University
Johns Hopkins University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 economics degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $78,181 in their early career. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $12,494 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for Johns Hopkins University
Duke University placed #6 among the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 190 economics degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Duke University earn around $98,649 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,437 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at Duke University
Northwestern University earned the #7 position for economics this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 277 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $84,932 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,227 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Northwestern University
Washington University In St Louis placed #8 among the best economics schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 114 economics students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $66,325 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,110.
Read more about the economics program at Washington University In St Louis
Tufts University placed #9 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Tufts University awarded about 163 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Tufts University earn around $75,125 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,850.
Get the full economics details for Tufts University
Yale University came in at #10 for economics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 199 economics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $82,617. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Yale University
Dartmouth College placed #11 among the best economics schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 128 economics students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $94,675 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Dartmouth College
Georgetown University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 206 economics students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Georgetown University earn around $84,460 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
See the full economics program report for Georgetown University
Brown University placed #13 among the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. About 223 economics degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $72,064. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
Read more about the economics program at Brown University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #14 for economics this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 156 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $89,097. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #15 spot for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 383 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $65,344 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,843.
Read more about the economics program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of California Berkeley came in at #16 for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 741 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $80,446 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
Read more about the economics program at University Of California Berkeley
Cornell University placed #17 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 166 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Cornell University earn around $84,967 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Cornell University
Middlebury College placed #18 among the best economics schools. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 128 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $85,879 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at Middlebury College
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #19 among the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 343 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $74,958 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full economics details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #20 for economics this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 699 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $66,334 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
Get the full economics details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Bates College earned the #21 position for economics this year. Bates College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lewiston. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 59 economics degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Bates College generally make around $71,187. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
More information about a degree in economics from Bates College
Boston College came in at #22 for economics this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 338 economics students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $72,099. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at Boston College
Wesleyan University landed the #23 spot for economics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 104 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
More information about a degree in economics from Wesleyan University
Santa Clara University landed the #24 spot for economics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Santa Clara University awarded about 86 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $76,606 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Get the full economics details for Santa Clara University
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 872 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $62,091. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of California Los Angeles
Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 375 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).