General Economics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 313 schools to find the best for general economics students.
The school you choose for general economics can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Economics rankings. For our Best Overall General Economics School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Economics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Economics in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for general economics. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 258 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $65,344 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,843 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 86 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $76,606 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general economics from Santa Clara University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general economics, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. About 623 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $68,416. Typical student debt for the program is $19,690.
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Students looking for a strong general economics program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 55 general economics degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $78,814 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,289 to complete this degree.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 19 general economics degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $65,603 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,678 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University earned the #6 position for general economics this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 50 general economics students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
See the full general economics program report for San Jose State University
Swarthmore College landed the #7 spot for general economics this year. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 57 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Swarthmore College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Swarthmore College earn around $76,944 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 596 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $64,223. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #9 among the best general economics schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 66 general economics students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $67,501. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500.
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Wake Forest University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 121 general economics degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $56,416 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,927 to complete this degree.
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De Anza College placed #11 among the best general economics schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 70 general economics students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #12 position for general economics this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 246 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $58,921 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,228 to complete this degree.
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New York University earned the #13 position for general economics this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 12 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of New York University earn a median of $68,495 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University landed the #14 spot for general economics this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 19 general economics degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $62,286. Typical student debt for the program is $18,575.
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Kenyon College came in at #15 for general economics this year. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $58,082 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,718.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #16 for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 323 general economics degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $64,294 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Brigham Young University Provo earned the #17 position for general economics this year. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. About 81% of students finish within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 108 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $63,332 in their early career. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
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Southern Methodist University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 255 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $71,630 in their early career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Vassar College placed #19 among the best general economics schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Vassar College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Vassar College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $79,845. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #20 among the best general economics schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 114 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $56,902 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #21 among the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 92 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $56,261 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Trinity College placed #22 among the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Trinity College awarded about 46 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Trinity College earn around $71,191 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Colorado College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. Colorado College graduates 88% of students within six years. About 23 general economics degrees were awarded at Colorado College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Colorado College earn around $58,082 in the first couple years of their career. Colorado College graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general economics from Colorado College
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #24 for general economics this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 359 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $68,794. Typical student debt for the program is $21,125.
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George Washington University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 30 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $75,236. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Economics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general economics education:
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 · 313 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).
