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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their economics graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 61 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.
Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 for economics graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Chicago typically earn about $157,181 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northwestern University earned it the #2 place for economics. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $125,639 annually.
University Of Notre Dame produces some of the highest-paid graduates in economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $120,257 annually.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,056.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $108,627 per year.
Lawrence University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Appleton. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Lawrence University typically earn about $80,210 annually.
Depauw University landed the #7 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,814.
Oberlin College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of about $93,318 a year early in their careers.
Butler University earned the #9 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,572.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $91,191 per year.
Miami University Oxford earned the #11 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,113.
John Carroll University came in at #12 for economics graduate earnings this year. John Carroll University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of University Heights. Economics graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of about $79,864 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #13 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Indiana University Bloomington make a median of around $86,586 per year.
Kenyon College came in at #14 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Kenyon College make a median of around $85,978 per year.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $81,285 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #16 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Wisconsin Madison make a median of around $84,958 per year.
Denison University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,351.
Michigan State University landed the #18 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Economics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $81,373 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned the #19 position for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public school located in the city of Oshkosh. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh typically earn about $72,738 annually.
Case Western Reserve University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,150.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #21 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,889.
Wabash College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the town of Crawfordsville, Wabash College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,447.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn typically earn about $82,126 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater landed the #24 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater typically earn about $86,030 annually.
Lake Forest College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Lake Forest College make a median of around $73,747 per year.
These schools also send economics graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 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.