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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Economics Schools in Massachusetts

24 Colleges in the United States
2,880 Economics Degrees Awarded
$66,644 Avg Early-Career Salary

Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their economics programs.

College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best economics schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Economics in Massachusetts

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
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in economics. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 405 economics students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Harvard University earn around $103,993 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,617 to complete this degree. Get the full economics details for Harvard University

2
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Students looking for a strong economics program will find one at Tufts University, which ranked #2. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 168 economics students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $75,125 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,850 in student loans. See the full economics program report for Tufts University

3

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 45 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $113,129. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. See the full economics program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

4
Wellesley College crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA

A rank of #4 makes Wellesley College one of the top schools for economics. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 67 economics students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $86,367 early in their careers. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,190 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Wellesley College

5
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston College awarded about 427 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $73,083 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from Boston College

6
Bentley University crest
Bentley University
Waltham, MA

Bentley University came in at #6 for economics this year. Bentley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. About 87% of students finish within six years. Bentley University awarded about 13 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Bentley University earn a median of $76,110 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,476 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Bentley University

7
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College placed #7 among the best economics schools. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Williams College awarded about 106 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $80,888 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,925 to complete this degree. Get the full economics details for Williams College

8

Northeastern University Global Network placed #8 among the best economics schools. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. There were roughly 77 economics students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University Global Network 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. More information about a degree in economics from Northeastern University Global Network

9
Amherst College crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA

Amherst College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 economics degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $90,568 in their early career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $16,662 in student loans. See the full economics program report for Amherst College

10

College Of The Holy Cross ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Worcester, College Of The Holy Cross is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 116 economics degrees were awarded at College Of The Holy Cross in the most recent year. Economics graduates of College Of The Holy Cross earn a median of $69,288 early in their careers. College Of The Holy Cross graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in economics from College Of The Holy Cross

11

Northeastern University came in at #11 for economics this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern University awarded about 254 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $70,531 early in their careers. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Get the full economics details for Northeastern University

12
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 358 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Boston University earn a median of $55,733 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500. Read more about the economics program at Boston University

13

University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #13 among the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 387 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $52,309 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full economics program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst

14
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Smith College landed the #14 spot for economics this year. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 33 economics degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $71,559 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000. Get the full economics details for Smith College

15
Mount Holyoke College crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA

Mount Holyoke College placed #15 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Mount Holyoke College graduates 84% of students within six years. Mount Holyoke College awarded about 23 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Mount Holyoke College earn around $35,038 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,041 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College

16

Brandeis University came in at #16 for economics this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waltham. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brandeis University awarded about 160 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $63,244 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,295 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Brandeis University

17
Stonehill College crest
Stonehill College
Easton, MA

Stonehill College earned the #17 position for economics this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Stonehill College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Stonehill College graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 economics students who graduated with this degree at Stonehill College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Stonehill College generally make around $53,303. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full economics details for Stonehill College

18
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA

Clark University placed #18 among the best economics schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. Clark University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 economics students who graduated with this degree at Clark University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Clark University earn around $34,023 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in economics from Clark University

19

Emmanuel College Massachusetts landed the #19 spot for economics this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 economics degrees were awarded at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $51,698 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in economics from Emmanuel College Massachusetts

20

University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best economics schools. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 78 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $46,523 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,994. See the full economics program report for University Of Massachusetts Boston

21

Bridgewater State University came in at #21 for economics this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Bridgewater State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 18 economics degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Economics graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $43,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for Bridgewater State University

22

University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #22 for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 18 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $41,910 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete this degree. See the full economics program report for University Of Massachusetts Lowell

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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 · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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