Best colleges for Economics in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Harvard University, Amherst College and Wellesley College are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Harvard University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,993, College Scorecard. Boston University, Harvard University and Boston College award the most Economics degrees in Massachusetts: 428, 416 and 409 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Massachusetts colleges offer Economics and award 3,080 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 10 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 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,993 | 416 | 98% | $15,013 | $6,617 |
| 2 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,568 | 81 | 94% | $16,081 | $16,662 |
| 3 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,367 | 62 | 92% | $19,292 | $11,190 |
| 4 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,888 | 125 | 94% | $10,747 | $12,925 |
| 5 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,125 | 197 | 94% | $23,570 | $17,850 |
| 6 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,099 | 409 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 7 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,559 | 43 | 89% | $17,183 | $19,000 |
| 8 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,531 | 292 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,500 |
| 9 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,288 | 123 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,299 | 151 | 86% | $25,074 | $25,295 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 428 | $55,733 |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 416 | $103,993 |
| 3 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 409 | $72,099 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 312 | $52,309 |
| 5 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 292 | $70,531 |
| 6 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 197 | $75,125 |
| 7 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 151 | $57,299 |
| 8 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit | 125 | $80,888 |
| 9 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 123 | $69,288 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 89 | $46,523 |
ShowHide the other 27 Massachusetts colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 81 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 62 |
| Northeastern University Professional Programs | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 62 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 49 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 43 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 36 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 16 |
| Bentley University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 13 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 9 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 8 |
| American International College | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 6 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 4 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 2 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Boston University (428 graduates a year), Harvard University (416 graduates a year) and Boston College (409 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Massachusetts colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Harvard University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,993, College Scorecard. Amherst College and Wellesley College follow. By degrees awarded, Boston University is the largest, with 428 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Harvard University tops the list at $103,993. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Massachusetts is $133,270 (median $106,380), across about 1,030 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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