Best colleges for Economics in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Princeton University, The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University - New Brunswick are the top bachelor's Economics programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Princeton University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,041, College Scorecard. Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Princeton University and Montclair State University award the most Economics degrees in New Jersey: 254, 170 and 56 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 New Jersey colleges offer Economics and award 678 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 | Princeton University Princeton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,041 | 170 | 98% | $13,729 | $11,250 |
| 2 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,218 | 20 | 86% | — | $23,500 |
| 3 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,848 | 254 | 84% | — | $24,965 |
| 4 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,148 | 31 | 44% | — | $28,281 |
| 5 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,375 | 56 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,580 | 26 | 67% | — | $21,750 |
| 7 | Drew University Madison Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,639 | 49 | 70% | $23,094 | $26,914 |
| 8 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $51,464 | 10 | 69% | $27,376 | $21,413 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in New Jersey
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 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 254 | $51,848* |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton Private not-for-profit | 170 | $103,041 |
| 3 | Montclair State University Montclair Public | 56 | $39,375 |
| 4 | Drew University Madison Private not-for-profit | 49 | $33,639 |
| 5 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 31 | $43,148 |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 26 | $38,580 |
| 7 | The College of New Jersey Ewing Public | 20 | $62,218 |
| 8 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark Public | 18 | $51,848* |
| 9 | Saint Peter's University Jersey City Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 New Jersey colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seton Hall University | South Orange | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Stockton University | Galloway | Public | 7 |
| New Jersey City University | Jersey City | Public | 6 |
| Rutgers University - Camden | Camden | Public | 6 |
| Caldwell University | Caldwell | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Kean University | Union | Public | 1 |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Rutgers University - New Brunswick (254 graduates a year), Princeton University (170 graduates a year) and Montclair State University (56 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 New Jersey colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Princeton University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $103,041, College Scorecard. The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University - New Brunswick follow. By degrees awarded, Rutgers University - New Brunswick is the largest, with 254 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Princeton University tops the list at $103,041. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Economists in New Jersey is $161,990 (median $167,550), across about 280 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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