Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 937 schools to find the best for economics students.
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for economics. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 231 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $84,311 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 242 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $103,993 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $6,617 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for Harvard University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for economics. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 583 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $92,075. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Duke University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 168 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $98,649 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,437 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the top schools for economics. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 51 economics students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
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Princeton University landed the #6 spot for economics this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Princeton University awarded about 124 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $103,041. Typical student debt for the program is $11,250.
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Northwestern University earned the #7 position for economics this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 241 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $84,932. Students borrow a median of $16,227 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University earned the #8 position for economics this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 economics students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $78,181 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,494 to complete this degree.
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Yale University landed the #9 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 165 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Yale University earn a median of $82,617 early in their careers. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Yale University
Dartmouth College earned the #10 position for economics this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 163 economics students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Dartmouth College earn around $94,675 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,400 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Dartmouth College
Georgetown University placed #11 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 166 economics degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $84,460 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Georgetown University
Tufts University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 148 economics students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $75,125. Typical student debt for the program is $17,850.
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Brown University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Brown University awarded about 174 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $72,064. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 355 economics students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the economics program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best economics schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 161 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $89,097 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 631 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $80,446 early in their careers. 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
Washington University In St Louis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 91 economics degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $66,325. Students borrow a median of $14,110 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Washington University In St Louis
Cornell University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 145 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Cornell University earn around $84,967 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #19 position for economics this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 667 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $66,334 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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Stanford University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 109 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. Typical student debt for the program is $12,500.
See the full economics program report for Stanford University
Middlebury College came in at #21 for economics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 112 economics students who graduated with this degree at Middlebury College in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $85,879 early in their careers. Middlebury College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for Middlebury College
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #22 position for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 260 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $74,958 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full economics program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 349 economics degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $65,344 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,843.
More information about a degree in economics from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Wellesley College came in at #24 for economics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wellesley. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 economics degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $86,367. Typical student debt for the program is $11,190.
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Bates College came in at #25 for economics this year. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 economics students who graduated with this degree at Bates College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Bates College earn around $71,187 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
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 · 937 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).
