Best institutions to study Economics in California
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $98,104 | 151 | 92% | $12,032 | $12,500 |
| 2 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,505 | 110 | 91% | $22,678 | $12,000 |
| 3 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,446 | 777 | 93% | — | $13,000 |
| 4 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,606 | 86 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,500 |
| 5 | Pomona College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,051 | 49 | 93% | $16,571 | — |
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,501 | 86 | 86% | — | $18,500 |
| 7 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,334 | 727 | 83% | — | $13,516 |
| 8 | Occidental College Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,885 | 58 | 81% | $28,024 | $25,590 |
| 9 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,091 | 1,028 | 93% | — | $15,000 |
| 10 | Pitzer College Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $59,767 | 18 | 83% | $23,248 | — |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in California.
Which Economics program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Stanford University tops the list at $98,104. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Economists in California is $133,680 (median $119,410), across about 860 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Economics program?+
The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Economists?+
The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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