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Best Economics Programs 2026

Best economics programs ranked by salary outcomes. See which schools produce the highest-earning econ graduates.

17 programs ranked

$54,899 avg salary

14 public schools

View as table

Rank	Program	School	State	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Value Score	Break-Even
1	Economics	Harvard University	MA	$89,515	$19,066/yr	100/100	1.4 yr
2	Economics	University of Chicago	IL	$82,564	$14,860/yr	99/100	1.2 yr
3	Economics	University of California-Berkeley	CA	$71,330	$13,481/yr	97/100	1.4 yr
4	Economics	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	MI	$62,024	$13,138/yr	93/100	1.9 yr
5	Economics	Stanford University	CA	$60,475	$12,136/yr	92/100	1.7 yr
6	Economics	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	NC	$57,311	$12,983/yr	91/100	2.1 yr
7	Business/Managerial Economics	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	$56,544	$17,339/yr	89/100	2.9 yr
8	Business/Managerial Economics	University of Georgia	GA	$51,322	$13,816/yr	86/100	2.9 yr
9	Economics	Indiana University-Bloomington	IN	$50,663	$16,264/yr	84/100	3.5 yr
10	Economics	The University of Texas at Austin	TX	$50,245	$19,857/yr	84/100	4.3 yr
11	Economics	University of Wisconsin-Madison	WI	$48,053	$16,928/yr	83/100	4.2 yr
12	Economics	University of Georgia	GA	$47,719	$13,816/yr	84/100	3.5 yr
13	Economics	University of Florida	FL	$45,380	$6,541/yr	85/100	2.1 yr
14	Economics	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	$42,908	$17,339/yr	78/100	5.9 yr
15	Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies	University of Georgia	GA	$41,613	$13,816/yr	79/100	5.3 yr
16	Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies	Ohio State University-Main Campus	OH	$40,172	$17,339/yr	75/100	7.5 yr
17	Economics	Wayne State University	MI	$35,437	$14,773/yr	62/100	12.3 yr

Economics

100/100

Harvard University · Cambridge, MA

$89,515 median salary$19,066/yr net cost1.4 yr break-even+198% vs. HS diploma

Economics

99/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$82,564 median salary$14,860/yr net cost1.2 yr break-even+175% vs. HS diploma

Economics

97/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$71,330 median salary$13,481/yr net cost1.4 yr break-even+138% vs. HS diploma

Economics

93/100Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

$62,024 median salary$13,138/yr net cost1.9 yr break-even+107% vs. HS diploma

Economics

92/100

Stanford University · Stanford, CA

$60,475 median salary$12,136/yr net cost1.7 yr break-even+102% vs. HS diploma

Economics

91/100Public

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC

$57,311 median salary$12,983/yr net cost2.1 yr break-even+91% vs. HS diploma

Business/Managerial Economics

89/100Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH

$56,544 median salary$17,339/yr net cost2.9 yr break-even+88% vs. HS diploma

Business/Managerial Economics

86/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$51,322 median salary$13,816/yr net cost2.9 yr break-even+71% vs. HS diploma

Economics

84/100Public

Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN

$50,663 median salary$16,264/yr net cost3.5 yr break-even+69% vs. HS diploma

Economics

84/100Public

The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX

$50,245 median salary$19,857/yr net cost4.3 yr break-even+67% vs. HS diploma

Economics

83/100Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI

$48,053 median salary$16,928/yr net cost4.2 yr break-even+60% vs. HS diploma

Economics

84/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$47,719 median salary$13,816/yr net cost3.5 yr break-even+59% vs. HS diploma

Economics

85/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$45,380 median salary$6,541/yr net cost2.1 yr break-even+51% vs. HS diploma

Economics

78/100Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH

$42,908 median salary$17,339/yr net cost5.9 yr break-even+43% vs. HS diploma

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies

79/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$41,613 median salary$13,816/yr net cost5.3 yr break-even+39% vs. HS diploma

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies

75/100Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH

$40,172 median salary$17,339/yr net cost7.5 yr break-even+34% vs. HS diploma

Economics

62/100Public

Wayne State University · Detroit, MI

$35,437 median salary$14,773/yr net cost12.3 yr break-even+18% vs. HS diploma

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See how different economics programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Compare Schools Overall Rankings

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.