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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Economics Schools in Washington

10 Colleges in the United States
509 Economics Degrees Awarded
$47,306 Avg Early-Career Salary

Economics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their economics programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for economics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Economics in Washington

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Economics

1

University Of Washington Seattle Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best economics schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 258 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $53,934. Typical student debt for the program is $14,166. Get the full economics details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

2
Whitman College crest
Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA

Whitman College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #2. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Whitman College awarded about 23 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Whitman College generally make around $46,832. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. See the full economics program report for Whitman College

3

A rank of #3 makes Whitworth University one of the top schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Spokane, Whitworth University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. Whitworth University awarded about 19 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $63,134 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,051 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Whitworth University

4
Gonzaga University crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spokane. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 18 economics degrees were awarded at Gonzaga University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Gonzaga University earn around $44,845 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Gonzaga University

5

Washington State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 economics degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $39,762 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,656. Get the full economics details for Washington State University

6

Central Washington University earned the #6 position for economics this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. Central Washington University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 14 economics degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $52,129 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Central Washington University

7

Western Washington University landed the #7 spot for economics this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 economics degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $45,401 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Western Washington University

8

University Of Puget Sound placed #8 among the best economics schools. University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Puget Sound in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $48,153. University Of Puget Sound graduates carry a median of $26,031 in student loans. See the full economics program report for University Of Puget Sound

9

Eastern Washington University landed the #9 spot for economics this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 28 economics degrees were awarded at Eastern Washington University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $37,368. Students borrow a median of $21,809 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Eastern Washington University

10

Seattle Pacific University came in at #10 for economics this year. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 10 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $41,502. Seattle Pacific University graduates carry a median of $26,835 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Seattle Pacific University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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