by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 56 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Swarthmore College the best value for a degree in economics in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $76,944. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, while out-of-state students pay about $22,870. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,416. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus one of the best values for economics. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $46,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, compared with $22,952 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $51,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
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Allegheny College earned the #6 position for value in economics this year. Set in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $51,722. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Allegheny College admits about 55% of applicants.
Haverford College earned the #7 position for value in economics this year. Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Haverford. In-state tuition and fees average $70,398. Median earnings reach $79,966 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Temple University placed #8 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $48,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #9 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,782. Economics graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $50,529 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Gettysburg College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,640. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Economics graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $62,925 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #11 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,500 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $26,848 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $53,999. That is a strong return on a $26,848 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #12 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $14,000. Economics graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $89,097 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Ursinus College placed #13 among the best values for economics. Set in the suburb of Collegeville, Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,061 in tuition and fees. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $52,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #14 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,020 in student loans. Economics graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $86,284 early in their careers. Set against $22,020 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Dickinson College placed #15 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,650. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $53,990. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lafayette College earned the #16 position for value in economics this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $68,164. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Lafayette College admits about 31% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lehigh University came in at #18 for value in economics this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
Drexel University earned the #19 position for value in economics this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $29,000. Economics graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $70,967 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Franklin And Marshall College earned the #20 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Lancaster, Franklin And Marshall College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,794. Economics graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Franklin And Marshall College generally make around $52,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Franklin And Marshall College admits about 28% of applicants.
Bucknell University came in at #21 for value in economics this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,888. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $70,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
Villanova University placed #22 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $67,065 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.