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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find where economics graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose economics graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 for economics graduate salaries in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $152,236 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,407.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Saint Josephs University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Saint Josephs University typically earn about $101,844 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Swarthmore College earned it the #4 place for economics. Swarthmore College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Swarthmore College typically earn about $136,021 annually.
Lafayette College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,100.
Bucknell University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Early-career economics graduates from Bucknell University make a median of around $101,580 per year.
Drexel University earned the #7 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,544.
Villanova University earned the #8 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Villanova University earn a median of about $100,245 a year early in their careers.
University Of Scranton landed the #9 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of about $79,577 a year early in their careers.
Gettysburg College earned the #10 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Gettysburg College make a median of around $103,735 per year.
Muhlenberg College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Muhlenberg College earn a median of about $86,366 a year early in their careers.
Dickinson College earned the #12 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Dickinson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,865.
Ursinus College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Collegeville, Ursinus College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,166.
Franklin And Marshall College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Franklin And Marshall College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lancaster. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Franklin And Marshall College typically earn about $75,967 annually.
Lebanon Valley College came in at #15 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College typically earn about $75,284 annually.
Washington And Jefferson College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the suburb of Washington, Washington And Jefferson College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Washington And Jefferson College make a median of around $74,999 per year.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #17 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,651.
Allegheny College landed the #18 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,243.
Temple University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $74,509 annually.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania came in at #20 for economics graduate earnings this year. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Economics graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $66,624 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #21 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,353.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,999.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #23 spot for economics salaries this year. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the town of Shippensburg. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $52,040 annually.
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 · 23 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.