by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for economics students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Williams College earned the #1 spot for value among economics schools in Massachusetts. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,560. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $12,925. Early-career economics graduates make about $80,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harvard University earned it the #2 place for economics. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Economics graduates carry a median of $6,617 in student loans. Economics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $103,993 early in their careers. Set against $6,617 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Amherst College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,480. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $16,662. Economics graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $90,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Economics graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Bridgewater State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $43,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $26,994 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $46,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Wellesley College placed #7 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Economics graduates carry a median of $11,190 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $86,367. Set against $11,190 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $52,309. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #9 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $41,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,000. Economics graduates of Smith College earn a median of $71,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University earned the #11 position for value in economics this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,500. Early-career economics graduates make about $55,733. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University came in at #12 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,467. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of Clark University earn a median of $34,023 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Mount Holyoke College landed the #13 spot for economics value this year. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,041 in student loans. Economics graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $35,038 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,041 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Stonehill College came in at #14 for value in economics this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,370. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $53,303. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Stonehill College admits about 66% of applicants.
Northeastern University placed #15 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,162. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $70,531. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned the #16 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,550. Economics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Emmanuel College Massachusetts generally make around $51,698. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Tufts University came in at #17 for value in economics this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $17,850. Early-career economics graduates make about $75,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
Brandeis University landed the #18 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,080. Students borrow a median of $25,295 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $63,244. Set against $25,295 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Holy Cross landed the #19 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,500. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $69,288. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
Bentley University placed #20 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Waltham, Bentley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,000. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,476. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Bentley University generally make around $76,110. That is a strong return on a $25,476 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Economics graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $73,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.