Which state pays economics bachelor's graduates the most?

Maine, where the median program pays its graduates $71,187 in their first year, the highest of 24 state rankings. Connecticut is next, at $62,732.

Which economics bachelor's program pays the most?

Harvard University in Massachusetts reports the highest first-year pay of the 338 programs ranked here, $103,993. Its median federal debt is $6,617.

How much debt do economics bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $22,717 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 43% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Economics (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

338 programs report first-year pay
24 state rankings
Bachelor's in Economics

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median economics bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $51,725 in their first year and $77,760 five years after. Maine has the highest state median ($71,187), and Georgia the lowest ($45,226). The median program leaves its graduates with $22,717 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$51,725Across 338 programs

Median pay after 5 years$77,760Across 332 programs

Median federal debt$22,717Across 323 programs

Debt-to-earnings43%Across 315 programs

All 338 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · private nonprofit	$103,993	Not adjusted	$161,251	$6,617	6%
2	Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ · private nonprofit	$103,041	Not adjusted	Not reported	$11,250	11%
3	Duke UniversityDurham, NC · private nonprofit	$98,649	Not adjusted	$171,986	$13,437	14%
4	Stanford UniversityStanford, CA · private nonprofit	$98,104	$88,605	$148,692	$12,500	13%
5	Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH · private nonprofit	$94,675	Not adjusted	$153,295	$18,400	19%
6	University of ChicagoChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$92,075	Not adjusted	$157,181	$13,197	14%
7	Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA · private nonprofit	$90,568	Not adjusted	$150,151	$16,662	18%
8	Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont, CA · private nonprofit	$89,505	$80,839	$151,744	$12,000	13%
9	UPennPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$89,097	Not adjusted	$152,236	$14,000	16%
10	Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA · private nonprofit	$86,367	Not adjusted	$107,567	$11,190	13%
11	Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · private nonprofit	$86,284	Not adjusted	$132,407	$22,020	26%
12	Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT · private nonprofit	$85,879	Not adjusted	$150,031	$19,500	23%
13	Barnard CollegeNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$85,860	$79,558	$136,964	$16,750	20%
14	Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · private nonprofit	$84,967	Not adjusted	$129,667	$15,500	18%
15	Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · private nonprofit	$84,932	$84,968	$125,639	$16,227	19%
16	Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$84,460	Not adjusted	Not reported	$16,500	20%
17	Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN · private nonprofit	$84,311	Not adjusted	$128,449	$12,424	15%
18	Columbia UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$83,135	$77,033	$134,398	$25,000	30%
19	Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT · private nonprofit	$82,617	Not adjusted	$131,171	$13,250	16%
20	Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA · private nonprofit	$80,888	Not adjusted	$150,862	$12,925	16%
21	UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · public	$80,446	$72,657	$125,636	$13,000	16%
22	Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · private nonprofit	$79,845	Not adjusted	$103,043	$19,000	24%
23	Rice UniversityHouston, TX · private nonprofit	$78,814	$81,204	$104,828	$11,289	14%
24	Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · private nonprofit	$78,181	Not adjusted	$145,452	$12,494	16%
25	Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY · private nonprofit	$77,274	Not adjusted	$130,139	$17,500	23%
26	Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA · private nonprofit	$76,944	Not adjusted	$136,021	$19,500	25%
27	Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · private nonprofit	$76,606	$69,189	$128,642	$19,500	25%
28	Colby CollegeWaterville, ME · private nonprofit	$76,401	Not adjusted	$142,245	$24,250	32%
29	Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · private nonprofit	$76,299	Not adjusted	$120,257	$19,965	26%
30	Bowdoin CollegeBrunswick, ME · private nonprofit	$75,867	Not adjusted	$122,126	$19,500	26%
31	Tufts UniversityMedford, MA · private nonprofit	$75,125	Not adjusted	$126,124	$17,850	24%
32	UVACharlottesville, VA · public	$74,958	Not adjusted	$95,941	$19,000	25%
33	Fairfield UniversityFairfield, CT · private nonprofit	$74,023	Not adjusted	$97,565	$26,500	36%
34	Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, MA · private nonprofit	$72,099	Not adjusted	$112,774	$18,000	25%
35	Brown UniversityProvidence, RI · private nonprofit	$72,064	Not adjusted	$112,306	$13,000	18%
36	Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · private nonprofit	$71,737	Not adjusted	$145,820	$23,399	33%
37	SMUDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$71,630	$73,802	$96,927	$19,500	27%
38	Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA · private nonprofit	$71,559	Not adjusted	$74,557	$19,000	27%
39	Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY · private nonprofit	$71,350	$66,113	$108,312	$18,250	26%
40	Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA · private nonprofit	$71,340	Not adjusted	$104,633	$21,000	29%
41	Trinity CollegeHartford, CT · private nonprofit	$71,191	Not adjusted	$123,096	$21,500	30%
42	Bates CollegeLewiston, ME · private nonprofit	$71,187	Not adjusted	$108,673	$13,000	18%
43	Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$70,967	$72,733	$97,544	$29,000	41%
44	Bucknell UniversityLewisburg, PA · private nonprofit	$70,946	Not adjusted	$101,580	$25,888	36%
45	Northeastern UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$70,531	$66,692	$98,280	$24,500	35%
46	Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA · private nonprofit	$70,051	Not adjusted	$131,742	Not reported	Not reported
47	SNHUManchester, NH · private nonprofit	$69,807	Not adjusted	$113,138	$19,500	28%
48	Providence CollegeProvidence, RI · private nonprofit	$69,364	Not adjusted	$105,070	$26,000	37%
49	Elon UniversityElon, NC · private nonprofit	$69,298	Not adjusted	$95,431	$19,500	28%
50	College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$69,288	Not adjusted	$118,102	$27,000	39%
51	NYUNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$68,495	$63,468	$105,120	$21,250	31%
52	University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · public	$68,416	Not adjusted	$108,627	$19,690	29%
53	Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA · private nonprofit	$68,164	Not adjusted	$106,100	$19,500	29%
54	George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$67,684	Not adjusted	$104,484	$23,250	34%
55	Cal Poly SLOSan Luis Obispo, CA · public	$67,501	$60,965	$89,394	$18,500	27%
56	Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA · private nonprofit	$67,065	Not adjusted	$100,245	$27,000	40%
57	Carleton CollegeNorthfield, MN · private nonprofit	$66,567	Not adjusted	$107,997	$19,500	29%
58	UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · public	$66,334	$59,911	$107,948	$13,516	20%
59	WashUSt. Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$66,325	Not adjusted	$79,278	$14,110	21%
60	William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · public	$65,603	$64,887	$86,782	$19,678	30%
61	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$65,344	$69,275	$96,785	$15,843	24%
62	John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights, OH · private nonprofit	$65,098	$70,168	$79,864	$27,000	41%
63	St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MN · private nonprofit	$64,916	Not adjusted	Not reported	$30,215	47%
64	Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$64,885	$58,603	$80,191	$25,590	39%
65	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$64,386	$65,126	$80,323	$16,642	26%
66	University of RochesterRochester, NY · private nonprofit	$63,475	Not adjusted	$102,906	$19,946	31%
67	DePauw UniversityGreencastle, IN · private nonprofit	$63,395	Not adjusted	$97,814	$26,978	43%
68	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$63,332	$64,060	$98,908	$11,000	17%
69	Whitworth UniversitySpokane, WA · private nonprofit	$63,134	$58,997	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
70	Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg, PA · private nonprofit	$62,925	Not adjusted	$103,735	$27,000	43%
71	Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · private nonprofit	$62,889	Not adjusted	Not reported	$21,000	33%
72	Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · private nonprofit	$62,846	Not adjusted	$113,427	$27,000	43%
73	Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT · private nonprofit	$62,732	Not adjusted	$109,560	$25,206	40%
74	JMUHarrisonburg, VA · public	$62,286	$61,606	$96,390	$18,575	30%
75	TCNJEwing, NJ · public	$62,218	$57,183	$77,796	$23,500	38%
76	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$62,091	$56,079	$100,784	$15,000	24%
77	Hobart William Smith CollegesGeneva, NY · private nonprofit	$61,946	Not adjusted	$84,370	$27,000	44%
78	Oberlin CollegeOberlin, OH · private nonprofit	$61,713	Not adjusted	$93,318	$25,000	41%
79	University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA · private nonprofit	$61,027	Not adjusted	$122,879	$23,000	38%
80	Utah StateLogan, UT · public	$60,472	$61,167	$88,162	$15,250	25%
81	University of St Thomas (Minnesota)Saint Paul, MN · private nonprofit	$60,323	$61,166	$78,183	$24,600	41%
82	Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · private nonprofit	$59,907	$62,213	$81,070	$27,000	45%
83	Pitzer CollegeClaremont, CA · private nonprofit	$59,767	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
84	Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN · private nonprofit	$59,752	Not adjusted	$97,301	$24,000	40%
85	PurdueWest Lafayette, IN · public	$59,187	Not adjusted	$81,285	$24,700	42%
86	IU BloomingtonBloomington, IN · public	$59,142	Not adjusted	$86,586	$20,500	35%
87	Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, PA · private nonprofit	$59,122	Not adjusted	$86,366	$25,298	43%
88	Assumption UniversityWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$58,954	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	46%
89	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$58,921	$58,946	$91,191	$21,228	36%
90	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$58,717	$60,497	$97,244	$21,125	36%
91	University of MarylandCollege Park, MD · public	$58,650	$55,879	$86,897	$20,097	34%
92	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$58,590	$63,153	Not reported	$21,264	36%
93	SewaneeSewanee, TN · private nonprofit	$58,532	Not adjusted	$77,878	$24,798	42%
94	American UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$58,151	Not adjusted	$77,219	$22,625	39%
95	Colorado CollegeColorado Springs, CO · private nonprofit	$58,082	Not adjusted	$84,600	$18,250	31%
95	Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH · private nonprofit	$58,082	Not adjusted	$85,978	$18,718	32%
97	University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · private nonprofit	$58,046	$52,426	$87,378	$21,500	37%
98	St Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY · private nonprofit	$57,829	Not adjusted	$82,561	$26,000	45%
99	Rhodes CollegeMemphis, TN · private nonprofit	$57,814	Not adjusted	$89,072	$19,500	34%
100	UW-OshkoshOshkosh, WI · public	$57,663	$61,282	$72,738	$25,000	43%
101	Iowa StateAmes, IA · public	$57,619	$65,654	$81,208	$23,414	41%
102	Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX · private nonprofit	$57,482	$59,225	$88,904	$20,500	36%
103	Cal State Channel IslandsCamarillo, CA · public	$57,440	Not adjusted	$56,069	Not reported	Not reported
104	Miami UniversityOxford, OH · public	$57,379	Not adjusted	$92,113	$25,500	44%
105	Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA · private nonprofit	$57,299	Not adjusted	$100,387	$25,295	44%
106	USCLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$57,060	$51,535	$98,555	$14,000	25%
107	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$56,902	$57,698	$83,564	$21,500	38%
108	Ball StateMuncie, IN · public	$56,782	$60,841	Not reported	$22,054	39%
109	Kent StateKent, OH · public	$56,731	$61,150	Not reported	$25,000	44%
110	Wake Forest UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · private nonprofit	$56,416	Not adjusted	$109,506	$20,927	37%
111	Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · public	$56,261	$55,647	$86,760	$22,500	40%
112	St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN · private nonprofit	$56,238	$57,024	$81,483	$27,000	48%
113	CU DenverDenver, CO · public	$56,201	$54,537	$73,274	$23,049	41%
114	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$55,974	Not adjusted	$82,376	$26,000	46%
115	University of DelawareNewark, DE · public	$55,905	Not adjusted	$84,140	$25,261	45%
116	Canisius UniversityBuffalo, NY · private nonprofit	$55,786	$51,692	$68,624	$25,500	46%
117	Boston UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$55,733	Not adjusted	$88,959	$24,500	44%
118	University of DallasIrving, TX · private nonprofit	$55,732	Not adjusted	$59,537	$24,752	44%
119	Furman UniversityGreenville, SC · private nonprofit	$55,615	Not adjusted	Not reported	$24,125	43%
120	Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY · private nonprofit	$55,614	Not adjusted	$117,164	$26,000	47%
121	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$55,418	Not adjusted	$87,517	$25,000	45%
122	Denison UniversityGranville, OH · private nonprofit	$55,087	Not adjusted	$83,351	$24,102	44%
123	Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · private nonprofit	$55,020	$50,982	$90,012	$24,000	44%
124	UMBCBaltimore, MD · public	$54,859	$52,267	$77,388	$21,920	40%
125	Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE · private nonprofit	$54,827	Not adjusted	$96,817	$26,250	48%
126	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$54,778	$54,410	$74,632	$16,430	30%
127	Saint Johns UniversityCollegeville, MN · private nonprofit	$54,752	$55,518	$83,544	$27,000	49%
128	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$54,495	Not adjusted	$84,958	$20,750	38%
129	TCUFort Worth, TX · private nonprofit	$54,462	$56,113	$83,781	$19,500	36%
130	Siena UniversityLoudonville, NY · private nonprofit	$54,328	$50,341	$78,549	$27,000	50%
130	University of New HampshireDurham, NH · public	$54,328	Not adjusted	$84,298	$25,897	48%
132	University of TampaTampa, FL · private nonprofit	$54,284	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	50%
133	Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA · private nonprofit	$54,267	$49,013	$83,724	$24,250	45%
134	Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL · private nonprofit	$54,169	$54,192	Not reported	$27,000	50%
135	Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI · public	$54,013	$56,137	$81,373	$24,250	45%
136	Moravian UniversityBethlehem, PA · private nonprofit	$53,999	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,848	50%
137	Dickinson CollegeCarlisle, PA · private nonprofit	$53,990	Not adjusted	$87,865	$19,000	35%
138	Grand Valley StateAllendale, MI · public	$53,985	$56,108	$63,288	$27,000	50%
139	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$53,934	$50,399	$92,399	$14,166	26%
140	Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · public	$53,857	Not adjusted	$54,462	$19,500	36%
141	Sonoma StateRohnert Park, CA · public	$53,825	$48,614	$100,594	$20,125	37%
142	UW-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · public	$53,595	$56,958	$66,573	$25,000	47%
143	Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, IL · private nonprofit	$53,529	Not adjusted	$73,747	$27,000	50%
144	Western Colorado UniversityGunnison, CO · public	$53,403	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
145	Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere, WI · private nonprofit	$53,350	$56,698	Not reported	$27,000	51%
146	Stonehill CollegeEaston, MA · private nonprofit	$53,303	Not adjusted	$83,392	$25,000	47%
147	Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$53,206	$48,055	$83,849	$21,500	40%
148	Case WesternCleveland, OH · private nonprofit	$53,148	Not adjusted	$79,150	$25,949	49%
149	Reed CollegePortland, OR · private nonprofit	$53,110	Not adjusted	Not reported	$22,842	43%
150	George MasonFairfax, VA · public	$53,024	$52,445	$81,731	$21,500	41%
151	Bowling Green StateBowling Green, OH · public	$52,864	$56,981	$67,556	$23,625	45%
152	University of South DakotaVermillion, SD · public	$52,857	Not adjusted	$74,965	$20,819	39%
153	Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA · private nonprofit	$52,801	Not adjusted	$75,967	$23,048	44%
154	North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · private nonprofit	$52,728	$52,750	Not reported	$26,801	51%
155	University of MissouriColumbia, MO · public	$52,635	$57,957	$73,165	$18,815	36%
156	Ursinus CollegeCollegeville, PA · private nonprofit	$52,496	$53,802	$77,166	$27,000	51%
157	Kansas StateManhattan, KS · public	$52,490	Not adjusted	$75,615	$20,312	39%
158	Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · private nonprofit	$52,439	$53,172	$90,545	$24,474	47%
159	UMass AmherstAmherst, MA · public	$52,309	$49,462	$91,255	$26,000	50%
160	UConnStorrs, CT · public	$52,227	$50,407	$80,530	$22,907	44%
161	University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · public	$52,212	Not adjusted	$76,015	$19,500	37%
162	Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney, VA · private nonprofit	$52,155	Not adjusted	$77,723	$27,000	52%
163	Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA · public	$52,129	$48,713	$72,632	$15,000	29%
164	Bryant UniversitySmithfield, RI · private nonprofit	$52,020	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
165	Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA · public	$51,960	Not adjusted	$66,624	Not reported	Not reported
166	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$51,848	$47,652	$87,743	$24,965	48%
167	Stanislaus StateTurlock, CA · public	$51,815	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
167	Wabash CollegeCrawfordsville, IN · private nonprofit	$51,815	$55,519	$79,447	$27,000	52%
169	Baruch CollegeNew York, NY · public	$51,728	$47,931	$77,611	$11,758	23%
170	Allegheny CollegeMeadville, PA · private nonprofit	$51,722	$53,009	$71,243	$27,000	52%
171	Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$51,698	$48,884	Not reported	$27,000	52%
172	CU BoulderBoulder, CO · public	$51,521	$49,995	$79,838	$17,119	33%
173	St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · public	$51,483	$49,051	$75,600	$24,946	48%
174	Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ · private nonprofit	$51,464	Not adjusted	$75,322	$21,413	42%
175	Pace UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$51,426	$47,652	$100,496	$25,937	50%
176	UW-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · public	$51,344	Not adjusted	$68,243	$21,500	42%
177	UNTDenton, TX · public	$51,316	$52,872	$62,195	$23,619	46%
178	UC MercedMerced, CA · public	$51,212	$46,254	$71,331	$19,303	38%
179	UC San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · public	$51,192	$46,236	$84,118	$15,000	29%
180	Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA · private nonprofit	$51,183	$52,457	$75,284	$27,000	53%
181	Centre CollegeDanville, KY · private nonprofit	$51,077	Not adjusted	$84,284	$27,000	53%
182	Towson UniversityTowson, MD · public	$50,910	$48,505	$71,874	$18,838	37%
183	University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · public	$50,873	$51,584	$68,688	$25,250	50%
184	Washington CollegeChestertown, MD · private nonprofit	$50,835	Not adjusted	$82,557	$27,000	53%
185	University of HoustonHouston, TX · public	$50,820	$52,361	$74,425	$19,500	38%
186	Fort Hays StateHays, KS · public	$50,690	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
187	Wayne StateDetroit, MI · public	$50,648	$52,639	$65,866	$24,681	49%
188	University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA · public	$50,529	$51,786	$73,651	$25,782	51%
189	UC Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · public	$50,518	$45,627	$88,583	$18,017	36%
190	Worcester StateWorcester, MA · public	$50,463	$47,716	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
191	Washington & Jefferson CollegeWashington, PA · private nonprofit	$50,402	$51,656	$74,999	$27,000	54%
192	UC DavisDavis, CA · public	$50,295	$45,425	$86,559	$13,000	26%
193	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$50,223	Not adjusted	$79,242	$22,407	45%
194	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$50,209	$54,120	$72,851	$23,125	46%
195	Texas A&MCollege Station, TX · public	$49,738	$51,246	$80,293	$19,500	39%
196	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$49,725	$51,639	$80,203	$16,924	34%
197	UM-DearbornDearborn, MI · public	$49,665	Not adjusted	$82,126	$28,381	57%
198	Lewis & Clark CollegePortland, OR · private nonprofit	$49,576	Not adjusted	$60,179	$25,246	51%
199	University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA · public	$49,314	$56,191	$76,060	$17,169	35%
200	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$49,312	$44,538	$67,897	$17,625	36%
201	University of Southern MainePortland, ME · public	$49,173	Not adjusted	Not reported	$12,996	26%
202	Albion CollegeAlbion, MI · private nonprofit	$48,756	$50,673	$61,833	$27,000	55%
203	SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo, NY · public	$48,691	$45,117	$89,088	$20,824	43%
204	Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI · public	$48,636	Not adjusted	$65,632	$27,000	56%
205	FAUBoca Raton, FL · public	$48,632	$47,027	$68,395	$25,111	52%
206	Colorado StateFort Collins, CO · public	$48,462	$47,027	$69,679	$24,000	50%
207	Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT · private nonprofit	$48,340	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,000	52%
208	Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · public	$48,242	$49,442	$74,509	$24,250	50%
209	University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$48,153	Not adjusted	$69,224	$26,031	54%
210	University of South CarolinaColumbia, SC · public	$48,149	Not adjusted	$68,890	$24,062	50%
211	Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · public	$48,120	$44,588	$88,616	$19,919	41%
212	CUNY York CollegeJamaica, NY · public	$47,940	$44,421	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
213	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$47,908	$47,586	$70,028	$19,610	41%
214	Portland StatePortland, OR · public	$47,865	$46,309	$61,635	$24,949	52%
215	University of Nevada-RenoReno, NV · public	$47,766	$47,776	Not reported	$22,950	48%
216	UCFOrlando, FL · public	$47,743	$46,167	Not reported	$25,750	54%
217	SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY · public	$47,363	Not adjusted	$67,782	Not reported	Not reported
218	USFTampa, FL · public	$47,351	$45,788	$63,195	$22,925	48%
219	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FL · public	$47,344	$45,781	Not reported	$12,754	27%
220	Florida StateTallahassee, FL · public	$47,304	$45,742	$73,771	$17,625	37%
221	Saint Michael's CollegeColchester, VT · private nonprofit	$47,211	Not adjusted	$72,531	$24,500	52%
222	Montana StateBozeman, MT · public	$47,098	Not adjusted	$58,698	$25,500	54%
223	Monmouth CollegeMonmouth, IL · private nonprofit	$47,048	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
224	UT DallasRichardson, TX · public	$47,034	$48,460	$71,197	$20,748	44%
225	Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, PA · public	$46,860	$48,026	$69,353	$27,000	58%
226	Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA · private nonprofit	$46,832	Not adjusted	$92,363	$17,500	37%
227	Grinnell CollegeGrinnell, IA · private nonprofit	$46,791	Not adjusted	$78,815	$16,950	36%
228	Goucher CollegeBaltimore, MD · private nonprofit	$46,774	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,000	53%
229	UCCSColorado Springs, CO · public	$46,748	$45,364	$59,346	$25,000	53%
230	Ohio UniversityAthens, OH · public	$46,655	Not adjusted	$64,724	$19,750	42%
231	UMSLSaint Louis, MO · public	$46,583	$51,293	$65,785	$22,962	49%
232	UMass BostonBoston, MA · public	$46,523	$43,990	$75,739	$26,994	58%
233	East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · public	$46,425	$49,218	$64,033	$25,375	55%
234	UT ArlingtonArlington, TX · public	$46,416	$47,823	$80,774	$20,500	44%
235	Cal State East BayHayward, CA · public	$46,408	$41,915	$68,996	Not reported	Not reported
236	UW-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · public	$46,404	$49,316	$86,030	$21,698	47%
237	Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI · private nonprofit	$46,400	Not adjusted	$76,816	$23,718	51%
238	Tulane University of LouisianaNew Orleans, LA · private nonprofit	$46,386	Not adjusted	$89,211	$19,500	42%
239	San Francisco StateSan Francisco, CA · public	$46,310	$41,826	$76,801	$13,750	30%
240	University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN · public	$46,302	$50,399	$72,348	$21,650	47%
241	University of MaineOrono, ME · public	$46,159	$47,562	Not reported	$22,984	50%
242	Boise StateBoise, ID · public	$46,137	Not adjusted	Not reported	$24,675	53%
243	Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · public	$46,046	Not adjusted	$80,064	$23,250	50%
244	Willamette UniversitySalem, OR · private nonprofit	$45,993	Not adjusted	$74,070	$19,500	42%
245	University of OregonEugene, OR · public	$45,941	$44,447	$77,115	$19,305	42%
246	Hanover CollegeHanover, IN · private nonprofit	$45,740	Not adjusted	$69,424	$26,898	59%
247	Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis, MN · private nonprofit	$45,720	$46,359	$80,875	$27,000	59%
248	Oregon StateCorvallis, OR · public	$45,708	$44,222	$76,531	$23,849	52%
249	City College of New YorkNew York, NY · public	$45,556	$42,212	$65,099	$7,300	16%
250	NC A&TGreensboro, NC · public	$45,446	$48,180	$54,049	$27,000	59%
251	IU IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · public	$45,443	$48,691	$70,396	$18,711	41%
252	University of KansasLawrence, KS · public	$45,420	$50,429	$77,286	$26,000	57%
253	Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · public	$45,401	$42,426	$74,441	$19,000	42%
254	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$45,386	$45,405	$69,275	$25,879	57%
255	Christopher Newport UniversityNewport News, VA · public	$45,309	$44,814	$71,646	$23,125	51%
256	St. John's UniversityQueens, NY · private nonprofit	$45,301	$41,976	$97,273	$23,250	51%
257	University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO · public	$45,257	$43,917	Not reported	$21,000	46%
258	Radford UniversityRadford, VA · public	$45,189	$44,696	$63,478	$26,000	58%
259	University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, VA · public	$45,153	Not adjusted	$68,786	Not reported	Not reported
260	Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · public	$45,075	Not adjusted	$67,777	$22,250	49%
261	Missouri StateSpringfield, MO · public	$44,898	$49,438	$83,960	$19,793	44%
262	Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · private nonprofit	$44,845	$41,906	$93,627	$22,500	50%
263	Cleveland StateCleveland, OH · public	$44,759	$48,245	$66,265	$32,500	73%
264	South Dakota StateBrookings, SD · public	$44,663	$50,418	$64,860	$26,062	58%
265	Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY · public	$44,349	$41,094	$80,632	$21,550	49%
266	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$44,327	$47,109	$68,869	$27,000	61%
267	Texas TechLubbock, TX · public	$44,292	$45,635	$69,569	$27,125	61%
268	Lehman CollegeBronx, NY · public	$44,258	$41,010	$54,306	Not reported	Not reported
269	San Diego StateSan Diego, CA · public	$44,125	$39,853	$77,568	$15,250	35%
270	UC IrvineIrvine, CA · public	$44,087	$39,818	$73,054	$15,499	35%
271	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$44,015	$44,033	$71,687	$25,000	57%
272	SUNY PlattsburghPlattsburgh, NY · public	$43,977	Not adjusted	$66,521	$24,693	56%
273	Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$43,806	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
274	Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · private nonprofit	$43,746	Not adjusted	$48,400	$20,000	46%
275	Bridgewater StateBridgewater, MA · public	$43,682	$41,304	$55,503	$27,000	62%
276	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$43,656	$47,343	$62,431	$18,450	42%
277	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$43,444	Not adjusted	$63,644	$23,375	54%
278	Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UT · public	$43,266	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
279	College of Staten IslandStaten Island, NY · public	$43,227	$40,054	Not reported	$16,520	38%
280	William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ · public	$43,148	$39,656	$64,426	$28,281	66%
281	Texas StateSan Marcos, TX · public	$43,064	$44,370	Not reported	$22,717	53%
282	Kalamazoo CollegeKalamazoo, MI · private nonprofit	$42,508	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	64%
283	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$42,349	$40,951	$79,677	$15,851	37%
284	FIUMiami, FL · public	$42,314	$40,917	$75,402	$21,500	51%
285	Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · private nonprofit	$42,311	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	64%
286	University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · private nonprofit	$42,129	Not adjusted	$68,154	$17,500	42%
287	University of Central ArkansasConway, AR · public	$41,919	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,835	47%
288	Central Connecticut StateNew Britain, CT · public	$41,910	$40,450	$67,502	$25,237	60%
288	UMass LowellLowell, MA · public	$41,910	$39,629	Not reported	$26,500	63%
290	University of KentuckyLexington, KY · public	$41,713	$46,266	$62,955	$26,942	65%
291	Buffalo StateBuffalo, NY · public	$41,547	$38,498	$62,835	$26,000	63%
292	University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL · public	$41,519	$40,148	Not reported	$14,000	34%
293	Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA · private nonprofit	$41,502	$38,782	Not reported	$26,835	65%
294	Westfield StateWestfield, MA · public	$41,085	$38,848	$67,101	$25,000	61%
295	University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · public	$41,076	Not adjusted	$65,080	$25,056	61%
296	Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA · private nonprofit	$40,726	Not adjusted	$82,027	$27,000	66%
297	Georgia StateAtlanta, GA · public	$40,598	$42,161	$72,816	$28,500	70%
298	Hendrix CollegeConway, AR · private nonprofit	$40,445	Not adjusted	$69,847	$27,000	67%
299	Cal State San MarcosSan Marcos, CA · public	$40,155	$36,267	$77,155	$17,500	44%
300	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$40,078	$37,136	$68,447	$20,225	50%
301	Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago, IL · public	$40,004	$40,021	$64,799	Not reported	Not reported
302	Cal State FullertonFullerton, CA · public	$39,993	$36,121	$86,084	$12,000	30%
303	University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GA · public	$39,899	$41,435	$58,939	$25,250	63%
304	Cal Poly PomonaPomona, CA · public	$39,836	$35,979	$74,722	$11,858	30%
305	Washington StatePullman, WA · public	$39,762	$37,156	$90,097	$25,656	65%
306	Queens CollegeQueens, NY · public	$39,377	$36,487	$64,765	$9,500	24%
307	Montclair StateMontclair, NJ · public	$39,375	$36,189	Not reported	$25,000	63%
308	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$38,580	$35,458	$69,434	$21,750	56%
309	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$38,475	$34,750	$66,961	$18,375	48%
310	University of VermontBurlington, VT · public	$38,452	Not adjusted	$59,465	$23,875	62%
311	Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · public	$37,798	Not adjusted	$54,554	$25,049	66%
312	UICChicago, IL · public	$37,767	$37,783	$75,992	$19,002	50%
313	Cal State San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA · public	$37,679	$34,031	$63,448	$17,500	46%
314	Chico StateChico, CA · public	$37,432	$33,808	$73,084	$19,150	51%
315	Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA · public	$37,368	$34,919	$63,899	$21,809	58%
316	University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · public	$37,188	$34,459	$66,432	$24,474	66%
317	DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$37,151	$37,167	$77,103	$22,433	60%
318	UC RiversideRiverside, CA · public	$37,149	$33,552	$66,935	$18,500	50%
319	Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI · private nonprofit	$36,493	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,500	53%
320	Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL · private nonprofit	$36,115	$34,923	$88,988	$26,000	72%
321	CSUNNorthridge, CA · public	$35,628	$32,178	$72,184	$13,000	36%
322	Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · public	$35,051	Not adjusted	$68,248	Not reported	Not reported
323	UH ManoaHonolulu, HI · public	$35,041	$31,870	$58,682	$19,750	56%
324	University of DaytonDayton, OH · private nonprofit	$34,671	Not adjusted	$62,519	$22,791	66%
325	Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · public	$34,580	$32,042	$77,945	$14,000	40%
326	SUNY Purchase CollegePurchase, NY · public	$34,297	$31,780	$70,695	$23,250	68%
327	Clark UniversityWorcester, MA · private nonprofit	$34,023	Not adjusted	$85,062	$27,000	79%
328	Austin CollegeSherman, TX · private nonprofit	$33,957	Not adjusted	$67,932	Not reported	Not reported
329	Appalachian StateBoone, NC · public	$33,742	$35,772	$66,181	$21,894	65%
330	John Jay CollegeNew York, NY · public	$33,709	$31,235	$63,500	$11,750	35%
331	Drew UniversityMadison, NJ · private nonprofit	$33,639	$30,917	$89,492	$26,914	80%
332	Cal State LALos Angeles, CA · public	$32,877	$29,694	Not reported	$11,000	33%
333	SUNY OswegoOswego, NY · public	$31,597	$29,278	$72,876	Not reported	Not reported
334	Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI · public	$30,569	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,536	87%
335	University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · public	$30,432	$30,438	$76,496	$19,053	63%
336	UNC AshevilleAsheville, NC · public	$28,301	$30,003	$54,370	$18,791	66%
337	Winston-Salem StateWinston-Salem, NC · public	$25,653	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
338	Knox CollegeGalesburg, IL · private nonprofit	$23,222	Not adjusted	$69,504	$25,000	108%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 189 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 149, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

23 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked.

Economics (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's economics bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Maine	5	$71,187	$19,500
2	Connecticut	7	$62,732	$24,125
3	Indiana	8	$57,962	$23,377
4	Massachusetts	21	$57,299	$25,000
5	Minnesota	10	$56,570	$24,600
6	Ohio	13	$55,087	$24,551
7	Virginia	12	$54,643	$23,000
8	Pennsylvania	22	$53,995	$25,835
9	Colorado	7	$51,521	$23,049
10	Maryland	7	$51,483	$21,920
11	Wisconsin	9	$51,344	$23,718
12	California	35	$51,212	$16,110
13	Texas	14	$51,068	$20,500
14	New York	36	$50,059	$21,550
15	Iowa	5	$49,314	$22,407
16	Michigan	10	$49,211	$26,768
17	New Jersey	8	$47,306	$24,233
18	Florida	11	$47,304	$21,500
19	Illinois	15	$47,048	$25,000
20	Oregon	6	$46,929	$23,346
21	Missouri	5	$46,583	$19,793
22	North Carolina	9	$46,425	$20,214
23	Washington	11	$45,401	$21,809
24	Georgia	6	$45,226	$26,125

Programs in 21 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Harvard University, MA$6,617
City College of New York, NY$7,300
Queens College, NY$9,500
Cal State LA, CA$11,000
Wellesley College, MA$11,190
Princeton University, NJ$11,250
Rice University, TX$11,289
John Jay College, NY$11,750
Baruch College, NY$11,758
Cal Poly Pomona, CA$11,858

Lowest debt for the pay

Only the 272 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to economics, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$72,040

Median pay in the US. 1,065,210 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to stay about the same in number from 2025 to 2035, with about 63,500 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $48,780Top 10%: $107,600

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

$78,760

Median pay in the US. 899,580 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 82,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $43,390Top 10%: $155,480

Data Scientists

$120,230

Median pay in the US. 262,440 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 35% from 2025 to 2035, with about 24,800 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $67,240Top 10%: $199,130

Social Science Research Assistants

$61,990

Median pay in the US. 30,640 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $38,090Top 10%: $102,070

Common questions

The median economics bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $51,725 in their first year and $77,760 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024