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 937 schools to find the best for economics students.
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Choosing a Great Economics School
The school you choose for economics can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Economics Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Economics Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2026 ranking of the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 262 economics degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $84,311 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,424 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Vanderbilt University
Harvard University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 405 economics students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University 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.
More information about a degree in economics from Harvard University
University Of Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 698 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $92,075 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $13,197 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at University Of Chicago
A rank of #4 makes Duke University one of the top schools for economics. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 248 economics degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $98,649. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,437 in student loans.
Get the full economics details for Duke University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 75 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.
More information about a degree in economics from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Northwestern University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 341 economics students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Northwestern University earn around $84,932 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,227.
Read more about the economics program at Northwestern University
Johns Hopkins University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 610 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $89,118 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,494 to complete this degree.
Get the full economics details for Johns Hopkins University
Princeton University placed #8 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 164 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Princeton University earn around $103,041 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Princeton University
Dartmouth College placed #9 among the best economics schools. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 163 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $94,675 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Dartmouth College
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 377 economics students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Yale University came in at #11 for economics this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 248 economics degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $82,617. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans.
Get the full economics details for Yale University
Tufts University placed #12 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 168 economics degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Tufts University earn around $75,125 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,850 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Tufts University
University Of California Berkeley landed the #13 spot for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 661 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $80,446. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
See the full economics program report for University Of California Berkeley
Brown University placed #14 among the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Brown University graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 208 economics students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Brown University earn a median of $72,064 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Brown University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #15 for economics this year. 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 212 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.
See the full economics program report for University Of Pennsylvania
Georgetown University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 228 economics degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $81,892 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Georgetown University
Washington University In St Louis ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 129 economics students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $66,325 in their early career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $14,110 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Washington University In St Louis
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #18 among the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 694 economics degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $66,334 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
Middlebury College landed the #19 spot for economics this year. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. 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. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Middlebury College generally make around $85,879. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
More information about a degree in economics from Middlebury College
Cornell University came in at #20 for economics this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 231 economics degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $84,967 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Read more about the economics program at Cornell University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #21 position for economics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 economics students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
See the full economics program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #22 for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 365 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $15,843 to complete this degree.
Get the full economics details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #23 spot for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 280 economics degrees 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.
Read more about the economics program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
Stanford University came in at #24 for economics this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 148 economics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $98,104 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for Stanford University
Wellesley College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. 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.
Get the full economics details for Wellesley College
Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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).
