Compare 421 Economics. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $65,835. Top programs: $153,139+.
Economics programs produce graduates earning between $105,566 and $153,139—a $48K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 421 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Duke University's Economics program leads with graduates earning $153,139, well above the $66K average across all programs. The University of Chicago follows at $128K, with Amherst College close behind at $128K. These top programs prove that specialized excellence drives outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Duke graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 1.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.08, graduates can clear their student debt with about one month of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $153,139 | 219 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #2 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $127,832 | 423 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Excellent |
| #3 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $127,636 | 74 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Good |
| #4 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $127,416 | 90 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Excellent |
| #5 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $125,816 | 225 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #6 | Middlebury CollegePrivate | $125,751 | 129 | $13,857 | Excellent | $27,380 | Excellent |
| #7 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $125,006 | 198 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Excellent |
| #8 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $124,570 | 215 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Excellent |
| #9 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $118,120 | 166 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Good |
| #10 | $117,355 | 338 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #11 | Claremont Mckenna CollegePrivate | $115,832 | 118 | $13,500 | Excellent | $52,129 | Good |
| #12 | Williams CollegePrivate | $115,082 | 108 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Excellent |
| #13 | Trinity CollegePrivate | $112,699 | 88 | $23,000 | Excellent | $60,796 | Manageable |
| #14 | $110,878 | 45 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #15 | $110,050 | 56 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good | |
| #16 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $108,040 | 112 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #17 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $107,248 | 169 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #18 | $106,624 | 751 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #19 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $105,795 | 338 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #20 | Swarthmore CollegePrivate | $105,566 | 84 | $17,500 | Excellent | $65,862 | Manageable |
| #21 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $105,444 | 172 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Good |
| #22 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $104,258 | 257 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #23 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $103,456 | 133 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | Manageable |
| #24 | Barnard CollegePrivate | $103,309 | 80 | $18,000 | Excellent | $65,000 | Manageable |
| #25 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $103,078 | 126 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
