Best colleges for Economics in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Notre Dame, DePauw University and Purdue University are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. University of Notre Dame leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,299, College Scorecard. Purdue University, University of Notre Dame and Indiana University - Bloomington award the most Economics degrees in Indiana: 238, 145 and 94 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Indiana colleges offer Economics and award 640 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 8 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 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,299 | 145 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,965 |
| 2 | DePauw University Greencastle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $63,395 | 60 | 75% | $20,874 | $26,978 |
| 3 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,187 | 238 | 83% | — | $24,700 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,142 | 94 | 80% | — | $20,500 |
| 5 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $56,782 | 16 | 62% | — | $22,054 |
| 6 | Wabash College Crawfordsville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,815 | 18 | 77% | $19,021 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Hanover College Hanover Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,740 | 4 | 67% | $20,442 | $26,898 |
| 8 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,443 | 17 | 54% | — | $18,711 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Indiana
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University West Lafayette Public | 238 | $59,187 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Private not-for-profit | 145 | $76,299 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 94 | $59,142 |
| 4 | DePauw University Greencastle Private not-for-profit | 60 | $63,395 |
| 5 | Wabash College Crawfordsville Private not-for-profit | 18 | $51,815 |
| 6 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 17 | $45,443 |
| 7 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 16 | $56,782 |
| 8 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 9 | Valparaiso University Valparaiso Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 10 | Butler University Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Indiana colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Public | 5 |
| Hanover College | Hanover | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Franklin College | Franklin | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Huntington University | Huntington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute | Public | 2 |
| Earlham College | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Purdue University (238 graduates a year), University of Notre Dame (145 graduates a year) and Indiana University - Bloomington (94 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Indiana colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, University of Notre Dame leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,299, College Scorecard. DePauw University and Purdue University follow. By degrees awarded, Purdue University is the largest, with 238 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Notre Dame tops the list at $76,299. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Indiana is $96,780 (median $80,750), across about 80 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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