Pennsylvania · Economics

Best Economics institutions in Pennsylvania, ranked by earnings

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…

Institutions
48
offering CIP 45.06
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,709
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$68,164
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
20
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,803
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
72%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Economists
$110,740
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$89,09721297%$22,055$14,000
2Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$86,2845294%$23,803$22,020
3Swarthmore College
Swarthmore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$76,9445792%$18,174$19,500
4Drexel University
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,9674178%$36,004$29,000
5Bucknell University
Lewisburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$70,9467786%$30,675$25,888
6Lafayette College
Easton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$68,1648588%$20,396$19,500
7Villanova University
Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$67,0659192%$33,774$27,000
8Gettysburg College
Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$62,9255583%$24,453$27,000
9Muhlenberg College
Allentown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$59,122882%$23,111$25,298
10Moravian University
Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$53,9991072%$28,454$26,848

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$115,440
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningWriting

What Economists earn in Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
710
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$110,740
median $113,300
Best-paying metro
$128,400
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$74,340 avg · 31,240 jobs
Data Scientists
$107,450 avg · 10,430 jobs
Statisticians
$99,020 avg · 2,190 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$57,490 avg · 1,270 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Economics program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $89,097. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in Pennsylvania?+

The average annual wage for Economists in Pennsylvania is $110,740 (median $113,300), across about 710 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

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