Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
Economics
CIP45.06
767 colleges offer Economics. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 767
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $79,310
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $18,968
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 39
- Associate's
- 149
- Bachelor's
- 767
- Master's
- 236
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 6
- Doctoral
- 136
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 61
What it covers
About Economics
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 45.06.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 45.06.
- Economics, General
- Applied Economics
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Development Economics and International Development
- International Economics
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 39 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 149 | $60,0764 yrs after · 3 colleges | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 767 | $79,3104 yrs after · 355 colleges | $18,968260 colleges |
| Master's | 236 | $105,0014 yrs after · 21 colleges | $39,07112 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 136 | $97,6324 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| First professional | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 61 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Economics graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofit · 100 graduates
$166,678
debt $9,750
- 2
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · 196 graduates
$161,149
debt $13,000
- 3
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit · 124 graduates
$160,763
debt not reported
- 4
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 678 graduates
$159,578
debt $12,500
- 5
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 260 graduates
$155,592
debt $14,000
- 6
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit · 196 graduates
$152,929
debt $14,833
- 7
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit · 120 graduates
$146,524
debt $11,750
- 8
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 48 graduates
$144,886
debt $19,000
- 9
New Haven, CT · Private nonprofit · 212 graduates
$142,936
debt $15,000
- 10
Amherst, MA · Private nonprofit · 88 graduates
$141,730
debt $19,500
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Economics by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Development Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Bright outlook
Science
Economists
- Median pay
- $124,720
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
More in Social Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Economics
How many colleges offer Economics?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Economics at these degree levels: certificate (39 colleges), associate's (149 colleges), bachelor's (767 colleges), master's (236 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (6 colleges), doctoral (136 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (61 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Economics graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Economics earn $79,310 a year four years after finishing, across 355 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Economics graduates earn the most?
Williams College reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Economics: $166,678 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.