by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Development Economics & International Development involves the study of Development Economics And International Development. A Program That Focuses On The Systematic Study Of The Economic Development Process And Its Application To The Problems Of Specific Countries And Regions. Includes Instruction In Economic Development Theory, Industrialization, Land Reform, Infrastructural Development, Investment Policy, The Role Of Governments And Business In Development, International Development Organizations, And The Study Of Social, Health, And Environmental Influences On Economic Development. Read on to learn the essential details every development economics & international development major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering development economics & international development programs.
In the U.S., development economics & international development is a widely-pursued major, with 375 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Development Economics & International Development Schools ranking analyzes these 48 schools to determine the best overall colleges for development economics & international development students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of development economics & international development programs later in this article.
Programs in Development Economics & International Development emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations development economics & international development graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a development economics & international development program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a development economics & international development major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several development economics & international development degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 181 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 183 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 10 |
People currently working in careers related to development economics & international development tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 33.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in development economics & international development careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in development economics & international development opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to development economics & international development.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to development economics & international development.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of development economics & international development graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,270 |
| 4 years | $74,609 |
| 5 years | $87,950 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for development economics & international development graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers development economics & international development grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Environmental Economists | $86,726 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
With 48 different development economics & international development programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased development economics & international development school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in development economics & international development, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 22,727 |
| Economics, General | 21,627 |
| Applied Economics | 368 |
| International Economics | 281 |
| Economics, Other | 250 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
