Economics: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Bachelor's programs in Economics (CIP 45.06).
Median earnings, 1 yr after
$60,917
Bachelor's degree Verified data
Median earnings, 4 yrs after
$82,686
Verified data
Typical program median debt
$19,500
federal loans Calculated estimate
Programs reporting
821
34,393 recent graduates Verified data
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 821 | 34,393 | $60,917 | $82,686 | $19,500 280 programs |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $154,591 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 95 graduates measured | $124,433 | $161,149 | $13,500 |
| Harvard University MA · Private, nonprofit · 71 graduates measured | $120,683 | $155,592 | $14,000 |
| Dartmouth College NH · Private, nonprofit · 137 graduates measured | $115,308 | $152,929 | $14,833 |
| Amherst College MA · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $109,806 | $141,730 | $19,500 |
| Brown University RI · Private, nonprofit · 90 graduates measured | $108,964 | $124,508 | $12,000 |
| Yale University CT · Private, nonprofit · 87 graduates measured | $108,619 | $142,936 | $15,000 |
| Stanford University CA · Private, nonprofit · 33 graduates measured | $108,498 | $112,700 | Data unavailable |
| Princeton University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 54 graduates measured | $108,471 | $160,763 | Data unavailable |
| Williams College MA · Private, nonprofit · 81 graduates measured | $105,744 | $166,678 | $9,750 |
| Pomona College CA · Private, nonprofit · 28 graduates measured | $101,681 | $96,702 | Data unavailable |
| Claremont McKenna College CA · Private, nonprofit · 55 graduates measured | $99,125 | $146,524 | $12,625 |
| University of Chicago IL · Private, nonprofit · 194 graduates measured | $98,564 | $159,578 | $12,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 33 graduates measured | $98,098 | $144,886 | $19,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 141 graduates measured | $97,674 | $137,710 | $17,750 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Economics
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | $78,760 | +7.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Statisticians | $105,650 | +11.0% | Master's degree |
| Data scientists | $120,230 | +34.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Economists | $124,720 | +4.7% | Master's degree |
| Survey researchers | $69,460 | -4.8% | Master's degree |
| Social science research assistants | $61,990 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Economics teachers, postsecondary | $123,920 | +2.4% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $72,040 | -0.2% | Bachelor's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (6)
- 45.0601 Economics, General
- 45.0602 Applied Economics
- 45.0603 Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- 45.0604 Development Economics and International Development
- 45.0605 International Economics
- 45.0699 Economics, Other
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