Compare 26 Economics. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $71,142.
With top graduates earning $126K, Economics stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $54K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across Pennsylvania's 26 ranked programs.
The University of Pennsylvania's Economics program leads with graduates earning $125,816, while the state average sits at $71,142. Swarthmore College follows at $105,566, and Carnegie Mellon reaches $94,093—demonstrating that program outcomes vary significantly even among elite institutions in the same state.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $15,715 and face just a 2.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making the premium program surprisingly affordable.
Highest program earnings: $125,816
Strong outcomes ($84,681) with 86% acceptance
2.1% payment burden | Excellent
7.1% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $125,816 | 225 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #2 | Swarthmore CollegePrivate | $105,566 | 84 | $17,500 | Excellent | $65,862 | Manageable |
| #3 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $94,093 | 54 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Manageable |
| #4 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $88,504 | 117 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | Manageable |
| #5 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $88,087 | 123 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Manageable |
| #6 | Gettysburg CollegePrivate | $86,599 | 74 | $26,999 | Excellent | $62,000 | Challenging |
| #7 | Saint Joseph's UniversityPrivate | $84,681 | 16 | $25,500 | Excellent | $42,436 | Manageable |
| #8 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $83,676 | 49 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #9 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $79,134 | 127 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Challenging |
| #10 | $75,421 | 624 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Manageable | |
| #11 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $70,089 | 20 | $25,455 | Excellent | $48,779 | Challenging |
| #12 | Dickinson CollegePrivate | $67,032 | 54 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,729 | Challenging |
| #13 | Ursinus CollegePrivate | $66,697 | 47 | $27,000 | Good | $59,162 | High |
| #14 | $64,862 | 181 | $24,250 | Excellent | $35,031 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $64,490 | 29 | $27,000 | Good | $53,440 | High | |
| #16 | Lebanon Valley CollegePrivate | $64,060 | 9 | $27,000 | Good | $42,888 | High |
| #17 | Temple UniversityPublic | $61,989 | 98 | $24,395 | Good | $36,495 | Challenging |
| #18 | $58,573 | 13 | $26,000 | Good | $26,233 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Allegheny CollegePrivate | $58,491 | 45 | $27,000 | Good | $30,598 | Challenging |
| #20 | $57,374 | 7 | $24,218 | Good | $25,252 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $55,964 | 62 | $19,000 | Excellent | $51,114 | High | |
| #22 | Moravian UniversityPrivate | $53,999 | 23 | $26,793 | Good | $48,375 | High |
| #23 | $53,716 | 29 | $26,798 | Good | $26,073 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $52,040 | 11 | $25,000 | Good | $28,373 | High | |
| #25 | $46,054 | 18 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High |
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 →
