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 highest-paying schools turn a economics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 20 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.
Rice University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,828.
Strong graduate earnings at Southern Methodist University earned it the #2 place for economics. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Southern Methodist University typically earn about $96,927 annually.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin typically earn about $97,244 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Trinity University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Trinity University typically earn about $88,904 annually.
A rank of #5 makes Texas Christian University one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Texas Christian University make a median of around $83,781 per year.
Arizona State University earned the #6 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,632.
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #7 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Economics graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of about $74,632 a year early in their careers.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #8 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station typically earn about $80,293 annually.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,015.
University Of Houston earned the #10 position for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Houston is a public school located in the city of Houston. Economics graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of about $74,425 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #11 spot for economics salaries this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school located in the city of Arlington. Economics graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of about $80,774 a year early in their careers.
University Of Dallas earned the #12 position for economics graduate earnings this year. University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irving. Economics graduates of University Of Dallas earn a median of about $59,537 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arizona landed the #13 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Economics graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $70,028 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #14 position for economics graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public school located in the city of Richardson. Economics graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of about $71,197 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Texas ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of North Texas make a median of around $62,195 per year.
Texas Tech University earned the #16 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Texas Tech University is a public school located in the city of Lubbock. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Texas Tech University typically earn about $69,569 annually.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Economics graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of about $62,431 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #18 for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,025.
Austin College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Austin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sherman. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Austin College typically earn about $67,932 annually.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,064.
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 · 20 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.