by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a economics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the early-career earnings of their economics graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send economics graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Carleton College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools in the The Plains States Region. Carleton College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Economics graduates of Carleton College earn a median of about $107,997 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,003.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Macalester College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Macalester College make a median of around $97,301 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Rockhurst University earned it the #4 place for economics. Rockhurst University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Economics graduates of Rockhurst University earn a median of about $74,603 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Creighton University, which ranked #5. Creighton University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,817.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #6 for economics graduate earnings this year. Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis typically earn about $79,278 annually.
University Of Minnesota Morris landed the #7 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Minnesota Morris make a median of around $71,340 per year.
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #8 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College typically earn about $90,545 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for economics. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $83,564 per year.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #10 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,183.
Iowa State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,208.
St Olaf College landed the #12 spot for economics salaries this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from St Olaf College make a median of around $81,483 per year.
Saint Johns University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Saint Johns University make a median of around $83,544 per year.
St Catherine University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Economics graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of about $64,916 a year early in their careers.
University Of Iowa earned the #15 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Iowa typically earn about $79,242 annually.
Kansas State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $75,615 per year.
University Of South Dakota came in at #17 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of South Dakota typically earn about $74,965 annually.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #18 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $73,165 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #19 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a public school located in the city of Springfield. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,960.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for economics. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Northern Iowa make a median of around $76,060 per year.
Augsburg College earned the #21 position for economics graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Augsburg College typically earn about $80,875 annually.
Grinnell College landed the #22 spot for economics salaries this year. Located in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Grinnell College make a median of around $78,815 per year.
University Of Kansas ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Students who complete the economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,286.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #24 for economics graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Minnesota Duluth make a median of around $68,688 per year.
Saint Cloud State University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for economics. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from Saint Cloud State University make a median of around $57,524 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid economics ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 30 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.