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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 29 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 Duke University this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Duke University typically earn about $140,750 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Colorado School Of Mines earned it the #2 place for economics. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,586.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of about $139,377 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at University Of San Francisco, which ranked #4. Located 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 $115,251 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at American University earned it the #5 place for economics. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Economics graduates of American University earn a median of about $116,157 a year early in their careers.
George Washington University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Early-career economics graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $106,178 per year.
George Mason University earned the #7 position for economics graduate earnings this year. George Mason University is a public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. After graduating, economics degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $104,824 annually.
Georgetown University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,787.
Wright State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,357.
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #10 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. Economics graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $87,173 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus make a median of around $87,013 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #12 spot for economics salaries this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. After graduating, economics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin typically earn about $98,715 annually.
Fordham University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,581.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #14 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Ohio University Main Campus make a median of around $85,818 per year.
Depaul University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,046.
Brandeis University came in at #16 for economics graduate earnings this year. Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. Early-career economics graduates from Brandeis University make a median of around $95,221 per year.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #17 for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a public school located in the suburb of College Park. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Maryland College Park make a median of around $79,163 per year.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #18 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus typically earn about $79,110 annually.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #19 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Texas A And M University College Station make a median of around $78,849 per year.
Florida State University landed the #20 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Economics graduates of Florida State University earn a median of about $74,592 a year early in their careers.
Boston College earned the #21 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,067.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $73,951 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Economics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of about $71,107 a year early in their careers.
Emory University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Economics graduates of Emory University earn a median of about $69,551 a year early in their careers.
University Of Denver came in at #25 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Denver make a median of around $69,514 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid economics ranking:
Explore the highest-paying economics schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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 · 29 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.