by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. 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 813 schools to find the best for general economics students.
What’s on this page:
These are the top schools for a associate’s degree in general economics, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Leading the list is El Camino Community College District, our #1 school for general economics. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Torrance. About 75 general economics degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year. Read more about the general economics program at El Camino Community College District
A rank of #2 makes College Of San Mateo one of the top schools for general economics. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. There were roughly 68 general economics students who graduated with this degree at College Of San Mateo in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $12,831. More information about a degree in general economics from College Of San Mateo
Students looking for a strong general economics program will find one at De Anza College, which ranked #3. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 74 general economics students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete this degree. Read more about the general economics program at De Anza College
Diablo Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general economics, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public university. There were roughly 90 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Diablo Valley College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $27,813 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree. Read more about the general economics program at Diablo Valley College
Orange Coast College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. There were roughly 58 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,978. Get the full general economics details for Orange Coast College
American River College came in at #6 for general economics this year. American River College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Sacramento. About 66 general economics degrees were awarded at American River College in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of American River College earn a median of $76,077 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,105. Get the full general economics details for American River College
College Of The Canyons placed #7 among the best general economics schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. College Of The Canyons awarded about 82 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from College Of The Canyons earn around $51,913 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general economics from College Of The Canyons
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #8 spot for general economics this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 13 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. General Economics graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Read more about the general economics program at Santa Rosa Junior College
Cerritos College placed #9 among the best general economics schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 72 general economics degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Cerritos College earn around $29,495 in the first couple years of their career. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Read more about the general economics program at Cerritos College
Moorpark College landed the #10 spot for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Moorpark. Moorpark College awarded about 177 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $105,599 in their early career. Moorpark College graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. See the full general economics program report for Moorpark College
Foothill College landed the #11 spot for general economics this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. Foothill College awarded about 25 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Foothill College earn around $94,152 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,595 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general economics from Foothill College
Santa Barbara City College came in at #12 for general economics this year. Set in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public institution. About 215 general economics degrees were awarded at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general economics degree recipients from Santa Barbara City College generally make around $68,184. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans. More information about a degree in general economics from Santa Barbara City College
East Los Angeles College placed #13 among the best general economics schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Monterey Park. East Los Angeles College awarded about 58 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from East Los Angeles College earn around $33,595 in the first couple years of their career. East Los Angeles College graduates carry a median of $8,180 in student loans. Get the full general economics details for East Los Angeles College
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College awarded about 30 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $30,111 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete this degree. Get the full general economics details for Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College
Cuesta College came in at #15 for general economics this year. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. Cuesta College awarded about 83 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general economics degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans. More information about a degree in general economics from Cuesta College
Sierra College landed the #16 spot for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Rocklin. There were roughly 102 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Sierra College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $29,214 in their early career. Sierra College graduates carry a median of $12,733 in student loans. Get the full general economics details for Sierra College
Los Angeles Valley College placed #17 among the best general economics schools. Located in the city of Valley Glen, Los Angeles Valley College is a very large public university. About 166 general economics degrees were awarded at Los Angeles Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $81,600 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,254 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general economics from Los Angeles Valley College
Oxnard College earned the #18 position for general economics this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. About 54 general economics degrees were awarded at Oxnard College in the most recent year. More information about a degree in general economics from Oxnard College
Saddleback College placed #19 among the best general economics schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. There were roughly 129 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $15,890 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,707. Read more about the general economics program at Saddleback College
Evergreen Valley College earned the #20 position for general economics this year. Evergreen Valley College is a large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 66 general economics degrees were awarded at Evergreen Valley College in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of Evergreen Valley College earn a median of $82,879 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,981 to complete this degree. Read more about the general economics program at Evergreen Valley College
San Diego Miramar College earned the #21 position for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 10 general economics degrees were awarded at San Diego Miramar College in the most recent year. General Economics graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. San Diego Miramar College graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. See the full general economics program report for San Diego Miramar College
Ohlone Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general economics schools. Ohlone Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fremont. About 32 general economics degrees were awarded at Ohlone Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $22,545 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree. Get the full general economics details for Ohlone Community College
Grossmont College landed the #23 spot for general economics this year. Grossmont College is a large public school located in the suburb of El Cajon. Grossmont College awarded about 182 general economics degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the general economics program at Grossmont College
Santa Monica College landed the #24 spot for general economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Monica. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 75 general economics students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year. Get the full general economics details for Santa Monica College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District came in at #25 for general economics this year. Located in the suburb of San Jacinto, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a very large public university. About 67 general economics degrees were awarded at Mt San Jacinto Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the general economics program make about $37,488 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,770. More information about a degree in general economics from Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general economics education:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Economics rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 813 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.