by our College Data Analytics TeamEconomics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 937 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for economics students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
See the highest-ranked economics schools offering a master’s degree below.
No school ranked higher than Duke University this year for economics. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 89 economics degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $98,649 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,437. More information about a degree in economics from Duke University
Harvard University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 106 economics degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $103,993. Students borrow a median of $6,617 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Harvard University
Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 69 economics degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Northwestern University earn around $84,932 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,227 in student loans. See the full economics program report for Northwestern University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 24 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,323. More information about a degree in economics from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 559 economics degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $100,054 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,494 to complete this degree. Read more about the economics program at Johns Hopkins University
Vanderbilt University placed #6 among the best economics schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 22 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $84,311 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Vanderbilt University
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #7 for economics this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 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
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 21 economics degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $113,129 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516. Read more about the economics program at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Yale University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Haven. About 96% of students finish within six years. Yale University awarded about 63 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Yale University earn around $82,617 in the first couple years of their career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at Yale University
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for economics this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 206 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $62,091 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000. See the full economics program report for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Chicago earned the #11 position for economics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 109 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Economics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $92,075 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete this degree. Read more about the economics program at University Of Chicago
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 for economics this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 107 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $68,416. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,690 in student loans. Get the full economics details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Cornell University landed the #13 spot for economics this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 economics students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $84,967 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Cornell University
Princeton University came in at #14 for economics this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. Princeton University awarded about 21 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $103,041. Students borrow a median of $11,250 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Princeton University
Washington University In St Louis landed the #15 spot for economics this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 33 economics degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $66,325 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,110. Read more about the economics program at Washington University In St Louis
Georgetown University earned the #16 position for economics this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 78 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,324. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at Georgetown University
University Of Southern California landed the #17 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 153 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Southern California earn around $57,060 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000. More information about a degree in economics from University Of Southern California
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 297 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $58,921 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,228 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #19 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $66,334. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
Brown University placed #20 among the best economics schools. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 economics students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $72,064 in their early career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. See the full economics program report for Brown University
Stanford University earned the #21 position for economics this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 11 economics degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $98,104. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Stanford University
Lehigh University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 15 economics degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,008. Get the full economics details for Lehigh University
Northeastern University Global Network earned the #23 position for economics this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit institution. Northeastern University Global Network awarded about 77 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Northeastern University Global Network earn around $78,054 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,055 to complete this degree. Read more about the economics program at Northeastern University Global Network
Rice University placed #24 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 22 economics students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $78,814 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,289 to complete this degree. Get the full economics details for Rice University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 615 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $73,951 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750. Read more about the economics program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s economics ranking:
These schools also earned a top-quality badge for economics this year:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| #73 | Boston University | Boston, MA |
A few more economics schools worth a look:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Economics rankings across degree levels:
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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.