Compare 12 Economics. programs in Washington. Average earnings: $64,405.
Economics programs produce graduates earning between $43,806 and $77,846—a $34K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 12 ranked programs in Washington, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Gonzaga University's Economics program leads with graduates earning $77,846, well above the state average of $64,405. Following closely, Whitman College delivers $74,766 while the University of Washington-Seattle produces $74,130 with its largest cohort of 312 students—proving program strength exists across different institutional types.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Washington-Seattle graduates borrow $14,615 and face just a 3.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.2, graduates can pay off student loans with about 2.4 months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $77,846
Strong outcomes ($77,846) with 76% acceptance
3.9% payment burden | Excellent
11.5% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Gonzaga UniversityPrivate | $77,846 | 36 | $24,454 | Excellent | $37,652 | Manageable |
| #2 | Whitman CollegePrivate | $74,766 | 41 | $18,437 | Excellent | $36,384 | Manageable |
| #3 | $74,130 | 312 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #4 | $73,907 | 64 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $68,051 | 13 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $67,444 | 82 | $18,500 | Excellent | $23,123 | Manageable | |
| #7 | Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate | $64,078 | 31 | $24,000 | Excellent | $37,687 | Challenging |
| #8 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | $63,134 | 19 | $25,000 | Good | $35,875 | Challenging |
| #9 | University Of Puget SoundPrivate | $61,261 | 38 | $25,000 | Good | $52,058 | High |
| #10 | Seattle UniversityPrivate | $57,318 | 15 | $19,883 | Excellent | $37,520 | Challenging |
| #11 | $47,122 | 19 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Challenging | |
| #12 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $43,806 | 10 | $22,578 | Manageable | $25,000 | 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 →
