2021 Highest Paid Economics Graduates
Finding the Best Economics School for You
Out of the 338 majors we analyze each year, economics was ranked #14. In fact, 40,355 bachelor's degrees were handed out in 2018-2019.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Highest Paid Economics Graduates ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
This year's Highest Paid Economics Graduates ranking looked at 280 colleges that offer a bachelor's in economics.
In this ranking, we use early career salaries - salaries 10 years from when a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
How Much Do Economics Majors Make After Graduation?
After graduating, economics majors that go to school in the United States go on to jobs making an average of $46,795 per year. This is 18% higher than the average college graduate, who only makes around $39,802 a year.
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Featured Economics Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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MS in Applied Economics
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2021 Highest Paid Economics Grads in the United States
Learn more about the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid economics graduates.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Economics Graduates
Duke University comes in at #1 in this year's ranking. Duke is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $89,800.
The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Duke take out while working on their bachelor's is $12,467. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $109, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Dartmouth College landed the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid economics school. Dartmouth is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $84,200.
Economics majors at Dartmouth take out an average of $15,850 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.
Princeton University earned the #3 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Princeton take out while working on their bachelor's is $9,934.
University of Chicago comes in at #3 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $83,000.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from UChicago carry an average student debtload of $17,390. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $187.
The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Claremont McKenna College. Located in the large suburb of Claremont, Claremont McKenna is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, economics majors make an average salary of $82,400.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from Claremont McKenna carry an average student debtload of $15,526. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $162.
United States Naval Academy comes in at #4 in this year's ranking. Annapolis is a small public school located in the large suburb of Annapolis.
Yale University earned the #5 spot in our 2021 rankings. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of New Haven. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in economics from the school is $81,400.
The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Yale take out while working on their bachelor's is $14,986. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $145, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
The #6 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Stanford University. Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $80,900.
On average, economics graduates from Stanford take out $13,848 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree.
Our rankings recognize Pomona College as the #7 school in this year's rankings. Pomona is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Claremont. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $80,800.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from Pomona carry an average student debtload of $14,939.
Harvard University comes in at #8 in this year's ranking. Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $78,800.
While working on their bachelor's, economics majors at Harvard accumulate an average of around $11,754 in student debt.
Middlebury College landed the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid economics school. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $75,400.
Economics majors at Middlebury take out an average of $17,184 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $198.
The #10 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Columbia University in the City of New York. Located in the large city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $75,300.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from Columbia carry an average student debtload of $25,072. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $259, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Economics at Columbia University in the City of New York Report
University of Pennsylvania comes in at #11 in this year's ranking. UPenn is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $74,700.
While working on their bachelor's, economics majors at UPenn accumulate an average of around $17,295 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $193, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
The #12 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Swarthmore College. Located in the large suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $74,500.
On average, economics graduates from Swarthmore take out $17,562 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $223.
Our rankings recognize Williams College as the #13 school in this year's rankings. Located in the fringe town of Williamstown, Williams is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $73,500.
The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Williams take out while working on their bachelor's is $12,738. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $125.
Our rankings recognize Rice University as the #14 school in this year's rankings. Rice is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Houston. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $73,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from Rice carry an average student debtload of $13,388. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $122.
Johns Hopkins University comes in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, economics majors make an average salary of $70,800.
On average, economics graduates from Johns Hopkins take out $17,200 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $194, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
The #16 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Amherst College. Located in the large suburb of Amherst, Amherst is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $69,800.
Economics majors at Amherst take out an average of $18,073 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $202, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Our rankings recognize Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the #17 school in this year's rankings. Located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge, MIT is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
Read full report on Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The #17 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Northwestern University. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Evanston. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in economics from the school is $69,200.
After completing their bachelor's degree, economics graduates from Northwestern carry an average student debtload of $15,151. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $148, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Georgetown University comes in at #18 in this year's ranking. Georgetown is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington. Economics majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $68,700.
On average, economics graduates from Georgetown take out $15,047 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.
Barnard College earned the #19 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large city of New York, Barnard is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $68,100.
The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Barnard take out while working on their bachelor's is $14,618. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $169, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Vanderbilt University comes in at #20 in this year's ranking. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville. Students who receive their bachelor's in economics from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $68,100.
On average, economics graduates from Vanderbilt take out $14,913 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $156, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Wellesley College landed the #21 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid economics school. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in economics from the school is $67,800.
Economics majors at Wellesley take out an average of $11,053 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $94, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Cornell University comes in at #22 in this year's ranking. Cornell is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Ithaca. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in economics from the school is $67,500.
While working on their bachelor's, economics majors at Cornell accumulate an average of around $13,451 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $138.
Rest of the Top Schools for Highest Paid Economics Graduates
Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great schools for Economics students seeking high pay that almost earned our Highest Paid Economics Graduates award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX |
| 44 | Brown University | Providence, RI |
| 45 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI |
| 46 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| 47 | New York University | New York, NY |
| 48 | Colby College | Waterville, ME |
| 49 | Morehouse College | Atlanta, GA |
| 50 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA |
| 51 | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY |
| 52 | Pace University - New York | New York, NY |
| 53 | Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Geneva, NY |
| 54 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA |
| 55 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 56 | Lafayette College | Easton, PA |
Economics by Region
View the Highest Paid Economics Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to Economics
Economics is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science & Government | 41,811 |
| Sociology | 29,920 |
| International Relations & National Security | 9,868 |
| Anthropology | 9,040 |
| Criminology | 8,478 |
View All Economics Related Majors >
Notes and References
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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