Best colleges for Economics in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University and Swarthmore College are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $89,097, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and University of Pennsylvania award the most Economics degrees in Pennsylvania: 346, 223 and 199 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 50 Pennsylvania colleges offer Economics and award 1,768 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,097 | 199 | 97% | $22,055 | $14,000 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,284 | 58 | 94% | $23,803 | $22,020 |
| 3 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,944 | 57 | 92% | $18,174 | $19,500 |
| 4 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,967 | 33 | 78% | $36,004 | $29,000 |
| 5 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,946 | 89 | 86% | $30,675 | $25,888 |
| 6 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,164 | 127 | 88% | $20,396 | $19,500 |
| 7 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $67,065 | 114 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,925 | 49 | 83% | $24,453 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,418 | 346 | 86% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,990 | 42 | 80% | $22,831 | $19,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 346 | $55,418 |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 223 | $50,529 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 199 | $89,097 |
| 4 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit | 127 | $68,164 |
| 5 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 114 | $67,065 |
| 6 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 89 | $70,946 |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 58 | $86,284 |
| 8 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore Private not-for-profit | 57 | $76,944 |
| 9 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg Private not-for-profit | 49 | $62,925 |
| 10 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit | 42 | $53,990 |
ShowHide the other 40 Pennsylvania colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 57 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 42 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | Public | 40 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 33 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 15 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 13 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 13 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 9 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 8 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 5 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 4 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 4 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | Public | 1 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (346 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (223 graduates a year) and University of Pennsylvania (199 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 50 Pennsylvania colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $89,097, College Scorecard. Carnegie Mellon University and Swarthmore College follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 346 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $89,097. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $117,370 (median $115,000), across about 560 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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