Best Economics institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings
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 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $92,075 | 698 | 96% | $13,333 | $13,197 |
| 2 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,932 | 341 | 95% | $14,799 | $16,227 |
| 3 | Wheaton College Wheaton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,889 | 29 | 85% | $23,461 | $21,000 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,921 | 386 | 85% | — | $21,228 |
| 5 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,169 | 10 | 61% | $20,903 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Lake Forest College Lake Forest Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,529 | 19 | 78% | $25,052 | $27,000 |
| 7 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,728 | 7 | 64% | $20,052 | $26,801 |
| 8 | Monmouth College Monmouth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,048 | 1 | 65% | $16,821 | — |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,386 | 25 | 49% | — | $25,879 |
| 10 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,015 | 40 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Illinois.
Which Economics program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of Chicago tops the list at $92,075. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Illinois is $128,330 (median $112,790), across about 590 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.
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).
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