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.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying economics schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send economics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of Oregon tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools in Oregon. University Of Oregon is a public school located in the city of Eugene. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Oregon make a median of around $77,115 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Oregon State University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,531.
A rank of #3 makes Willamette University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Willamette University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salem. Early-career economics graduates from Willamette University make a median of around $74,070 per year.
Lewis And Clark College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Portland, Lewis And Clark College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Lewis And Clark College earn a median of about $60,179 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Portland State University earned it the #5 place for economics. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,635.
Reed College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Portland, Reed College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,110.
This list is compiled 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 · 6 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.