by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their economics graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools to find where economics graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send economics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in economics, no school beat Stanford University this year. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Stanford University typically earn about $148,692 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Claremont Mckenna College earned it the #2 place for economics. Claremont Mckenna College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Early-career economics graduates from Claremont Mckenna College make a median of around $151,744 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $125,636 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Santa Clara University, which ranked #4. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Santa Clara University typically earn about $128,642 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Marys College Of California one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $97,033 per year.
Pomona College earned the #6 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Pomona College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Economics graduates of Pomona College earn a median of about $131,742 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #7 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,948.
University Of The Pacific came in at #8 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Economics graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of about $80,142 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #9 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $100,784 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #10 for economics graduate earnings this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,394.
Seattle University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Seattle University typically earn about $74,691 annually.
University Of Southern California came in at #12 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Economics graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of about $98,555 a year early in their careers.
Sonoma State University came in at #13 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Sonoma State University typically earn about $100,594 annually.
Occidental College earned the #14 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Occidental College typically earn about $80,191 annually.
University Of San Diego came in at #15 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of about $70,256 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Francisco ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $87,378 a year early in their careers.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #17 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school located in the city of Seattle. Economics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of about $92,399 a year early in their careers.
Pepperdine University earned the #18 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Pepperdine University typically earn about $83,724 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Economics graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $88,583 a year early in their careers.
Loyola Marymount University earned the #20 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $83,849 a year early in their careers.
Whitman College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Whitman College make a median of around $92,363 per year.
University Of California Davis ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,559.
University Of California San Diego came in at #23 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,118.
Gonzaga University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Gonzaga University make a median of around $93,627 per year.
Whitworth University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Whitworth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Spokane. Early-career economics graduates from Whitworth University make a median of around $63,134 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid economics ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their economics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 61 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
