Best colleges for Economics in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Oberlin College, University of Cincinnati and Kenyon College are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Oberlin College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,713, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, Denison University and Miami University - Oxford award the most Economics degrees in Ohio: 274, 81 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Ohio colleges offer Economics and award 828 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 | Oberlin College Oberlin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,713 | 48 | 81% | $28,313 | $25,000 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,590 | 51 | 75% | — | $21,264 |
| 3 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $58,082 | 28 | 82% | $20,475 | $18,718 |
| 4 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,379 | 74 | 80% | — | $25,500 |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,731 | 22 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Denison University Granville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,087 | 81 | 79% | $23,864 | $24,102 |
| 7 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,148 | 36 | 87% | $27,976 | $25,949 |
| 8 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,864 | 32 | 64% | — | $23,625 |
| 9 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,209 | 274 | 88% | — | $23,125 |
| 10 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,655 | 42 | 65% | — | $19,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 274 | $50,209 |
| 2 | Denison University Granville Private not-for-profit | 81 | $55,087 |
| 3 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 74 | $57,379 |
| 4 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 51 | $58,590 |
| 5 | Oberlin College Oberlin Private not-for-profit | 48 | $61,713 |
| 6 | Ohio University Athens Public | 42 | $46,655 |
| 7 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 36 | $53,148 |
| 8 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 32 | $52,864 |
| 9 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit | 28 | $58,082 |
| 10 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 22 | $56,731 |
ShowHide the other 21 Ohio colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| The College of Wooster | Wooster | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Public | 19 |
| University of Toledo | Toledo | Public | 17 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | Public | 14 |
| Wright State University | Dayton | Public | 14 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management (Graduate only) | Wright-Patterson AFB | Public | 7 |
| John Carroll University | University Heights | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Wittenberg University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Youngstown State University | Youngstown | Public | 2 |
| Ashland University | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Bluffton University | Bluffton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Heidelberg University | Tiffin | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marietta College | Marietta | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Ohio State University (274 graduates a year), Denison University (81 graduates a year) and Miami University - Oxford (74 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Ohio colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Oberlin College leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,713, College Scorecard. University of Cincinnati and Kenyon College follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 274 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Oberlin College tops the list at $61,713. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Ohio is $132,380 (median $120,000), across about 140 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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