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 highest-paying schools turn a economics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 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 Johns Hopkins University this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $145,452 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Salisbury University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Salisbury University make a median of around $70,822 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,897.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Maryland Baltimore County make a median of around $77,388 per year.
Washington College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the town of Chestertown, Washington College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Washington College make a median of around $82,557 per year.
St Marys College Of Maryland earned the #6 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from St Marys College Of Maryland make a median of around $75,600 per year.
Towson University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Towson University is a public school located in the city of Towson. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Towson University typically earn about $71,874 annually.
Goucher College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Baltimore, Goucher College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,774.
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 · 8 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.