Best Schools for Economics in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Economics
University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in economics. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 661 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $80,446. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at University Of California Santa Barbara, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 694 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $66,334 in their early career. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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Stanford University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 148 economics students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $98,104 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #4. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 964 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Economics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $62,091 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for economics. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 71 economics degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Santa Clara University earn around $76,606 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California came in at #6 for economics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 344 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Southern California earn around $57,060 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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Claremont Mckenna College landed the #7 spot for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Claremont Mckenna College awarded about 99 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $89,505 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #8 for economics this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 258 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn around $53,934 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,166 to complete this degree.
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Pomona College came in at #9 for economics this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Pomona College graduates 93% of students within six years. Pomona College awarded about 44 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $70,051 in their early career.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #10 spot for economics this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 77 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $67,501. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis came in at #11 for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 449 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $50,295 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #12 for economics this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 270 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $51,192. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best economics schools. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 20 economics degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
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Scripps College came in at #14 for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit university. Scripps College graduates 82% of students within six years. About 14 economics degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
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El Camino Community College District placed #15 among the best economics schools. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. About 75 economics degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year.
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College Of San Mateo came in at #16 for economics this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. About 68 economics degrees were awarded at College Of San Mateo in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #17 position for economics this year. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 158 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $50,518 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,017 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #18 spot for economics this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 63 economics degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $53,206. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University placed #19 among the best economics schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 economics students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Pepperdine University earn around $54,267 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250.
More information about a degree in economics from Pepperdine University
Claremont Graduate University landed the #20 spot for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 30 economics students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Claremont Graduate University earn a median of $68,239 early in their careers.
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De Anza College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. About 74 economics degrees were awarded at De Anza College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 56 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $39,993 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Diablo Valley College placed #23 among the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. There were roughly 90 economics students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Typical student debt for the program is $9,205.
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Whitman College came in at #24 for economics this year. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Whitman College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 23 economics degrees were awarded at Whitman College in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $46,832 in their early career. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University earned the #25 position for economics this year. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 economics degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Sonoma State University earn around $53,825 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,125.
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Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
Narrow Economics Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 189 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
