by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying economics schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose economics graduates go on to earn the most.
Stanford University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid economics graduates in California. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $148,692 per year.
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of about $151,744 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located 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.
Strong graduate earnings at Santa Clara University earned it the #4 place for economics. 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. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. 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. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Pomona College typically earn about $131,742 annually.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Early-career economics graduates from University Of California Santa Barbara make a median of around $107,948 per year.
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. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. 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 ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Economics graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $89,394 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $98,555 per year.
Sonoma State University earned the #12 position 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 came in at #13 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Occidental College earn a median of about $80,191 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Diego earned the #14 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,256.
University Of San Francisco earned the #15 position for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $87,378 annually.
Pepperdine University came in at #16 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Pepperdine University make a median of around $83,724 per year.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #17 spot for economics salaries this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz typically earn about $88,583 annually.
Loyola Marymount University came in at #18 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University typically earn about $83,849 annually.
University Of California Davis ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Economics graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $86,559 a year early in their careers.
University Of California San Diego placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for economics. 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.
California State University Fresno placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for economics. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Economics graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of about $62,748 a year early in their careers.
Pitzer College landed the #22 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pitzer College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Pitzer College earn a median of about $59,767 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Merced came in at #23 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of California Merced is a public school located in the suburb of Merced. Economics graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of about $71,331 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University landed the #24 spot for economics salaries this year. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, economics degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $76,801 annually.
California State University Fullerton earned the #25 position for economics graduate earnings this year. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,084.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning economics graduates:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries economics graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 40 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.
