by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. 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.
Barnard College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid economics graduates in New York. Barnard College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Barnard College typically earn about $136,964 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $134,398.
Cornell University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $129,667.
A rank of #4 makes Colgate University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Colgate University typically earn about $130,139 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Skidmore College earned it the #5 place for economics. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of about $96,378 a year early in their careers.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute make a median of around $92,037 per year.
Vassar College earned the #7 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Vassar College typically earn about $103,043 annually.
Hamilton College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,312.
New York University earned the #9 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of New York University earn a median of about $105,120 a year early in their careers.
Union College New York came in at #10 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Schenectady, Union College New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Union College New York typically earn about $113,427 annually.
Marist College earned the #11 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Marist College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,164.
University Of Rochester ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of about $102,906 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #13 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Cuny Brooklyn College make a median of around $76,911 per year.
Ithaca College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Economics graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of about $73,994 a year early in their careers.
Pace University New York ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Pace University New York typically earn about $100,496 annually.
Hobart William Smith Colleges came in at #16 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Geneva, Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges make a median of around $84,370 per year.
Fordham University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $90,012 annually.
St Lawrence University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Canton. Early-career economics graduates from St Lawrence University make a median of around $82,561 per year.
Syracuse University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Economics graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $82,376 a year early in their careers.
St Johns University New York earned the #20 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from St Johns University New York make a median of around $97,273 per year.
Suny At Geneseo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Suny At Geneseo is a public school located in the town of Geneseo. Early-career economics graduates from Suny At Geneseo make a median of around $89,088 per year.
Suny At Binghamton landed the #22 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Suny At Binghamton make a median of around $88,616 per year.
Siena College landed the #23 spot for economics salaries this year. Siena College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,549.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College came in at #24 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a public institution. Economics graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of about $77,611 a year early in their careers.
Canisius College earned the #25 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Canisius College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Canisius College typically earn about $68,624 annually.
These schools also send economics graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their economics graduates, 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.