Compare 132 Economics. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $71,440.
The highest-earning Economics program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $56K earnings gap across 132 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Amherst College's Economics program leads with graduates earning $127,636, followed closely by University of Pennsylvania at $125,816 and Middlebury College at $125,751. The average across all programs is $71,440, yet these top performers demonstrate that program quality varies dramatically even among similarly selective institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Yale University graduates borrow $12,975 and face just a 1.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Middlebury College leads with a 6.0% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $127,636 | 74 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Good |
| #2 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $125,816 | 225 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #3 | Middlebury CollegePrivate | $125,751 | 129 | $13,857 | Excellent | $27,380 | Excellent |
| #4 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $125,006 | 198 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Excellent |
| #5 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $124,570 | 215 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Excellent |
| #6 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $118,120 | 166 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Good |
| #7 | $117,355 | 338 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #8 | Williams CollegePrivate | $115,082 | 108 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Excellent |
| #9 | Trinity CollegePrivate | $112,699 | 88 | $23,000 | Excellent | $60,796 | Manageable |
| #10 | $110,878 | 45 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #11 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $107,248 | 169 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #12 | Swarthmore CollegePrivate | $105,566 | 84 | $17,500 | Excellent | $65,862 | Manageable |
| #13 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $105,444 | 172 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Good |
| #14 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $103,456 | 133 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | Manageable |
| #15 | Barnard CollegePrivate | $103,309 | 80 | $18,000 | Excellent | $65,000 | Manageable |
| #16 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $103,078 | 126 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Good |
| #17 | Colby CollegePrivate | $102,153 | 69 | $19,157 | Excellent | $59,570 | Manageable |
| #18 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $96,461 | 112 | $27,000 | Excellent | $39,032 | Manageable |
| #19 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $94,824 | 203 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Manageable |
| #20 | Hamilton CollegePrivate | $94,218 | 102 | $17,000 | Excellent | $45,578 | Manageable |
| #21 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $94,093 | 54 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Manageable |
| #22 | Boston CollegePrivate | $93,934 | 316 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Manageable |
| #23 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | $91,749 | 82 | $10,000 | Excellent | $38,825 | Good |
| #24 | Bates CollegePrivate | $90,762 | 71 | $14,275 | Excellent | $70,222 | Challenging |
| #25 | Providence CollegePrivate | $90,036 | 48 | $27,000 | Excellent | $46,300 | Manageable |
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 →
