by our College Data Analytics TeamEconomics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 56 schools to find the best for economics students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall economics education in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best economics schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 377 economics degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 212 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $89,097. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000. Read more about the economics program at University Of Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 economics degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $76,944. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Swarthmore College
Lehigh University came in at #4 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. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 21 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Lehigh University
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #5. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 52 economics degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $86,284 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $22,020 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Carnegie Mellon University
Lafayette College earned the #6 position for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Lafayette College awarded about 85 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $68,164 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Read more about the economics program at Lafayette College
Haverford College came in at #7 for economics this year. Set in the suburb of Haverford, Haverford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Haverford College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 31 economics degrees were awarded at Haverford College in the most recent year. More information about a degree in economics from Haverford College
Villanova University placed #8 among the best economics schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 91 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $67,065 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in economics from Villanova University
Bucknell University landed the #9 spot for economics this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 77 economics degrees were awarded at Bucknell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Bucknell University generally make around $70,946. Typical student debt for the program is $25,888. Get the full economics details for Bucknell University
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #10 spot for economics this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 economics students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Dickinson College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 economics degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $53,990. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Dickinson College
Gettysburg College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the town of Gettysburg, Gettysburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 economics students who graduated with this degree at Gettysburg College in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $62,925 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in economics from Gettysburg College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #13 position for economics this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in economics from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #14 for economics this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 212 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $50,529. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $25,782 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Franklin And Marshall College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lancaster. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at Franklin And Marshall College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Franklin And Marshall College generally make around $52,801. Students borrow a median of $23,048 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Franklin And Marshall College
Drexel University came in at #16 for economics this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 economics students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $70,967 in their early career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Get the full economics details for Drexel University
Temple University earned the #17 position for economics this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 economics students who graduated with this degree at Temple University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $48,242. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. Get the full economics details for Temple University
Ursinus College landed the #18 spot for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Collegeville, Ursinus College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 73% of students finish within six years. Ursinus College awarded about 37 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Ursinus College earn around $52,496 in the first couple years of their career. Ursinus College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at Ursinus College
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #19 among the best economics schools. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 13 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $51,960. Students borrow a median of $26,486 to complete this degree. Read more about the economics program at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania
Allegheny College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Allegheny College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Meadville. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. Allegheny College awarded about 17 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Allegheny College generally make around $51,722. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Allegheny College
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #21 for economics this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 10 economics students who graduated with this degree at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $53,999 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,848. Read more about the economics program at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus placed #22 among the best economics schools. This large public university is located in the town of Indiana. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 economics degrees were awarded at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $46,860 early in their careers. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the economics program at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus
This ranking is produced 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 · 56 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.