2026 Best General Economics Schools in District of Columbia
General Economics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general economics programs.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general economics schools.
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Best Schools for General Economics in District of Columbia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general economics education in District of Columbia.
Top Schools in General Economics
George Washington University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general economics schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 general economics degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $75,236 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full general economics details for George Washington University
American University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general economics, ranking #2. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 58 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from American University generally make around $72,527. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete this degree.
See the full general economics program report for American University
Howard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general economics, ranking #3. Set in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 47 general economics degrees were awarded at Howard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $58,495 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in general economics from Howard University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 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.