Best colleges for Economics in District of Columbia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Georgetown University, George Washington University and American University are the top bachelor's Economics programs in District of Columbia by graduate earnings. Georgetown University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,460, College Scorecard. Georgetown University, George Washington University and American University award the most Economics degrees in District of Columbia: 237, 128 and 82 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 District of Columbia colleges offer Economics and award 507 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…
Top 3 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,460 | 237 | 95% | $22,242 | $16,500 |
| 2 | George Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,684 | 128 | 84% | $29,789 | $23,250 |
| 3 | American University Washington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,151 | 82 | 75% | $30,225 | $22,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in District of Columbia
Top 6 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington Private not-for-profit | 237 | $84,460 |
| 2 | George Washington University Washington Private not-for-profit | 128 | $67,684 |
| 3 | American University Washington Private not-for-profit | 82 | $58,151 |
| 4 | Howard University Washington Private not-for-profit | 47 | Not reported |
| 5 | The Catholic University of America Washington Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 6 | Gallaudet University Washington Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in District of Columbia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in District of Columbia.
Which District of Columbia colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Georgetown University (237 graduates a year), George Washington University (128 graduates a year) and American University (82 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in District of Columbia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 District of Columbia colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in District of Columbia?+
By graduate earnings, Georgetown University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in District of Columbia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,460, College Scorecard. George Washington University and American University follow. By degrees awarded, Georgetown University is the largest, with 237 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in District of Columbia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Georgetown University tops the list at $84,460. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in District of Columbia?+
The average annual wage for Economists in District of Columbia is $175,100 (median $167,590), across about 3,000 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card