Connecticut · Economics

Best colleges for Economics in Connecticut

Ranked by graduate earnings

Yale University, Trinity College and Connecticut College are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. Yale University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,617, College Scorecard. University of Connecticut, Yale University and Wesleyan University award the most Economics degrees in Connecticut: 470, 279 and 104 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Connecticut colleges offer Economics and award 1,106 degrees and certificates a year in all.

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…

Institutions
13
offering CIP 45.06
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,106
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$62,732
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$28,311
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
70%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Economists
$112,760
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Yale University
New Haven Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$82,61727996%$27,025$13,250
2Trinity College
Hartford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,1918184%$25,245$21,500
3Connecticut College
New London Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$62,7325582%$27,183$25,206
4University of Connecticut
Storrs Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,22747083%—$22,907
5Central Connecticut State University
New Britain Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,9102348%—$25,237
6Fairfield University
Fairfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$74,0231684%$36,845$26,500
7Quinnipiac University
Hamden Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$48,3401676%$36,137$25,000

Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Connecticut

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Connecticut
Storrs Public
470$52,227
2Yale University
New Haven Private not-for-profit
279$82,617
3Wesleyan University
Middletown Private not-for-profit
104Not reported
4Trinity College
Hartford Private not-for-profit
81$71,191
5Connecticut College
New London Private not-for-profit
55$62,732
6Central Connecticut State University
New Britain Public
23$41,910
7Sacred Heart University
Fairfield Private not-for-profit
22Not reported
8University of Hartford
West Hartford Private not-for-profit
17Not reported
9Fairfield University
Fairfield Private not-for-profit
16$74,023
10Quinnipiac University
Hamden Private not-for-profit
16$48,340
Show the other 3 Connecticut colleges offering Economics
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimanticPublic11
Western Connecticut State UniversityDanburyPublic8
Connecticut State Community CollegeNew BritainPublic4

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$115,440
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningWriting

What Economists earn in Connecticut

Jobs in Connecticut
210
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$112,760
median $101,400
Best-paying metro
$103,090
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$86,740 avg · 9,930 jobs
Data Scientists
$129,850 avg · 1,760 jobs
Statisticians
$112,850 avg · 490 jobs
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
$180,860 avg · 300 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Connecticut.

Which Connecticut colleges award the most Economics degrees?+

University of Connecticut (470 graduates a year), Yale University (279 graduates a year) and Wesleyan University (104 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Connecticut colleges offer Economics.

What is the best college for Economics in Connecticut?+

By graduate earnings, Yale University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,617, College Scorecard. Trinity College and Connecticut College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Connecticut is the largest, with 470 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Economics program in Connecticut has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Yale University tops the list at $82,617. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in Connecticut?+

The average annual wage for Economists in Connecticut is $112,760 (median $101,400), across about 210 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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