Best colleges for Economics in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Carleton College, University of St Thomas and Macalester College are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Carleton College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $66,567, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St Olaf College and Macalester College award the most Economics degrees in Minnesota: 268, 70 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Minnesota colleges offer Economics and award 548 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 | Carleton College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,567 | 27 | 90% | $18,669 | $19,500 |
| 2 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $60,323 | 29 | 76% | $28,888 | $24,600 |
| 3 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $59,752 | 45 | 87% | $21,441 | $24,000 |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,902 | 268 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 5 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,238 | 70 | 84% | $18,124 | $27,000 |
| 6 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $64,916 | 5 | 61% | $21,042 | $30,215 |
| 7 | Saint Johns University Collegeville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $54,752 | 17 | 75% | $19,900 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $52,439 | 17 | 77% | $21,607 | $24,474 |
| 9 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,873 | 13 | 65% | — | $25,250 |
| 10 | Augsburg University Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,720 | 6 | 52% | $23,585 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Minnesota
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 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 268 | $56,902 |
| 2 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 70 | $56,238 |
| 3 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 45 | $59,752 |
| 4 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 29 | $60,323 |
| 5 | Carleton College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 27 | $66,567 |
| 6 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter Private not-for-profit | 17 | $52,439 |
| 7 | Saint Johns University Collegeville Private not-for-profit | 17 | $54,752 |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 13 | $50,873 |
| 9 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Minnesota colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul | Public | 7 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Moorhead | Public | 7 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| St Catherine University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji | Public | 4 |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | Morris | Public | 2 |
| Winona State University | Winona | Public | 2 |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| College of Saint Benedict | Saint Joseph | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (268 graduates a year), St Olaf College (70 graduates a year) and Macalester College (45 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Minnesota colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Carleton College leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $66,567, College Scorecard. University of St Thomas and Macalester College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 268 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Carleton College tops the list at $66,567. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Minnesota is $117,980 (median $105,120), across about 500 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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