# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/economics
- CIP code: 45.06 (Social Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 767 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/economics

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 39 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 149 | not reported | $60,076 | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 767 | $58,707 | $79,310 | $18,968 |
| Master's | 236 | $74,869 | $105,001 | $39,071 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 136 | $122,488 | $97,632 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 61 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Williamstown, MA | $166,678 | $9,750 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Durham, NC | $161,149 | $13,000 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Princeton, NJ | $160,763 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Chicago, IL | $159,578 | $12,500 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Cambridge, MA | $155,592 | $14,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Hanover, NH | $152,929 | $14,833 |
| [Claremont McKenna College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/claremont-mckenna-college-cmc-557) | Claremont, CA | $146,524 | $11,750 |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $144,886 | $19,000 |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | New Haven, CT | $142,936 | $15,000 |
| [Amherst College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/amherst-college-72) | Amherst, MA | $141,730 | $19,500 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Environmental Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 median pay
- [Business Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/business-intelligence-analysts): $120,230 median pay
- [Clinical Data Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-data-managers): $120,230 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Biostatisticians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biostatisticians): $105,650 median pay
- [Statisticians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/statisticians): $105,650 median pay
- [Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/market-research-analysts-and-marketing-specialists): $78,760 median pay
- [Search Marketing Strategists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/search-marketing-strategists): $78,760 median pay
- [Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/secondary-school-teachers-except-special-and-career-technical-education): $72,040 median pay
- [Survey Researchers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/survey-researchers): $69,460 median pay
- [Social Science Research Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-science-research-assistants): $61,990 median pay

## More in Social Sciences

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/political-science-and-government): 1,087 colleges
- [Sociology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/sociology): 944 colleges
- [Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/anthropology): 455 colleges
- [International Relations and National Security Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-relations-and-national-security-studies): 366 colleges
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-general): 317 colleges
- [Geography and Cartography](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geography-and-cartography): 293 colleges
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/criminology): 220 colleges
- [Social Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/social-sciences-other): 108 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/