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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 57 schools on the early-career earnings of their economics graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose economics graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Duke University the top school for economics graduate earnings in the Southeast Region. Duke University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Economics graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $162,798 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $128,449.
Strong graduate earnings at Washington And Lee University earned it the #3 place for economics. Set in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $145,820.
University Of Richmond produces some of the highest-paid graduates in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Richmond make a median of around $122,879 per year.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $95,941 per year.
Elon University earned the #6 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Elon University earn a median of about $95,431 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #7 position for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Early-career economics graduates from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill make a median of around $96,785 per year.
Wake Forest University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $109,506.
James Madison University landed the #9 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Economics graduates of James Madison University earn a median of about $96,390 a year early in their careers.
College Of William And Mary came in at #10 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Economics graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of about $86,782 a year early in their careers.
Guilford College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Guilford College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greensboro. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,332.
Rhodes College earned the #12 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,072.
Emory University earned the #13 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,633.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #14 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $86,760 annually.
Spelman College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Spelman College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,070.
George Mason University came in at #16 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $91,323 annually.
University Of Arkansas ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. University Of Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Arkansas make a median of around $66,889 per year.
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of about $77,878 a year early in their careers.
Randolph Macon College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Economics graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of about $65,198 a year early in their careers.
Centre College came in at #20 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Danville, Centre College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,284.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #21 for economics graduate earnings this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Early-career economics graduates from Tulane University Of Louisiana make a median of around $89,211 per year.
Hampden Sydney College came in at #22 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney, Hampden Sydney College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,723.
University Of Georgia placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Georgia make a median of around $80,203 per year.
Georgia Southern University earned the #24 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Georgia Southern University is a public school located in the town of Statesboro. Early-career economics graduates from Georgia Southern University make a median of around $60,451 per year.
Virginia Military Institute came in at #25 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. Economics graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $80,064 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning economics graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 57 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.