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.
College Factual analyzed 5 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.
Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the top school for economics graduate earnings in Iowa. Located 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.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Iowa one of the highest-paying schools for economics. 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.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. Early-career economics graduates from University Of Northern Iowa make a median of around $76,060 per year.
Grinnell College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying economics schools. Grinnell College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. After graduating, economics degree recipients from Grinnell College typically earn about $78,815 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in economics will find them at Coe College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Coe College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career economics graduates from Coe College make a median of around $42,311 per year.
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 · 5 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.