2026 Best General Economics Master’s Degree Schools
General Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general economics programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 813 schools to find the best for general economics students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for General Economics in the United States
See the highest-ranked general economics schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in General Economics
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general economics schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 19 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $98,649 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,437 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general economics, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $92,075 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,197.
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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. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 26 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $68,416 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,690.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for general economics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 207 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $58,921. Students borrow a median of $21,228 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for general economics. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 468 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $73,951 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best general economics schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 general economics degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $83,135 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Georgia awarded about 72 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $49,725. Students borrow a median of $16,924 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama came in at #8 for general economics this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 94 general economics degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $50,740 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans.
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New York University came in at #9 for general economics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 21 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $68,495 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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George Washington University came in at #10 for general economics this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 33 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $82,787. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #11 for general economics this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $51,799 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #12 among the best general economics schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $52,309 early in their careers. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin placed #13 among the best general economics schools. 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. About 325 general economics degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $78,870 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,125.
See the full general economics program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
George Mason University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 54 general economics students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $82,853 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #15 position for general economics this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 149 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $52,635 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,815 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #16 position for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 103 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $50,518 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,017 in student loans.
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University At Buffalo ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 11 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $40,078 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $20,225 in student loans.
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Cuny Hunter College placed #18 among the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $34,580. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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San Diego State University landed the #19 spot for general economics this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. About 76% of students finish within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 13 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $44,125 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans.
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Middle Tennessee State University earned the #20 position for general economics this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 13 general economics degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $43,575. Typical student debt for the program is $22,754.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 43 general economics degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $79,110 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,264 in student loans.
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Western Michigan University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 general economics degrees were awarded at Western Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Western Michigan University earn around $48,966 in the first couple years of their career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans.
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University Of Houston came in at #23 for general economics this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Houston awarded about 124 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $50,820. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Illinois State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 23 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Illinois State University earn around $44,015 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Depaul University came in at #25 for general economics this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Depaul University earn around $69,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,433 to complete this degree.
See the full general economics program report for Depaul University
Rest of the Top 34 General Economics Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general economics education:
Other General Economics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Economics rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 813 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.