Best institutions to study Economics
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes.
638 U.S. institutions graduated 19,798 Economics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0601, a specialization of Economics (CIP 45.06), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About Economics programs
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
See also: 01.0103 - Agricultural Economics., 19.0402 - Consumer Economics., 52.0601 - Business/Managerial Economics., 03.0204 - Environmental/Natural Resource Economics., 30.3901 - Economics and Computer Science., 30.4001 - Economics and Foreign Language/Literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Economics program provides a comprehensive understanding of the production, conservation, and allocation of resources in a world of scarcity. This program is ideal for students interested in exploring economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, and the impact of public policies on various sectors of society. With a focus on analytical methods, students will develop skills to assess economic phenomena and market trends.
Students in the Economics program will gain critical skills in mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis. Coursework typically includes economic theory, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries, preparing graduates for a variety of roles in the field.
Credentials awarded
What Economics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree13,977 graduates / yr · 513 institutions71%
- Associate's degree5,235 graduates / yr · 119 institutions26%
- Master's degree279 graduates / yr · 38 institutions1.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year194 graduates / yr · 10 institutions1.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship91 graduates / yr · 16 institutions0.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate20 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.1%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Economics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 30,884 |
| 2013 | 31,230 |
| 2014 | 32,776 |
| 2015 | 35,367 |
| 2016 | 36,111 |
| 2017 | 34,955 |
| 2018 | 33,605 |
| 2019 | 30,464 |
| 2020 | 27,810 |
| 2021 | 25,956 |
| 2022 | 22,445 |
| 2023 | 19,583 |
| 2024 | 19,703 |
| 2025 | 19,798 |
Top 50 institutions for Economics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 623 | 93% | — | $68,416 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 596 | 90% | — | $54,495 |
| 3 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor's | 378 | 83% | — | $52,227 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor's | 359 | 89% | — | $58,717 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor's | 323 | 84% | — | $49,738 |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor's | 294 | 91% | — | $42,349 |
| 7 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 272 | 43% | $34,565 | $69,807 |
| 8 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 267 | 89% | $21,956 | $55,733 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor's | 258 | 91% | — | $65,344 |
| 10 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 255 | 84% | $33,246 | $71,630 |
| 11 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CAPublicAssociate's | 254 | 36% | — | — |
| 12 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAssociate's | 250 | 48% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor's | 246 | 85% | — | $58,921 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAssociate's | 239 | 46% | — | — |
| 15 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 239 | 82% | — | $48,120 |
| 16 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor's | 229 | 84% | — | $51,848 |
| 17 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 228 | 87% | — | $44,087 |
| 18 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor's | 225 | 81% | — | $54,013 |
| 19 | Moorpark College Moorpark, CAPublicAssociate's | 219 | 44% | — | — |
| 20 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate's | 216 | 37% | — | — |
| 21 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen, CAPublicAssociate's | 209 | 32% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor's | 204 | 74% | — | $51,521 |
| 23 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAssociate's | 195 | 34% | — | — |
| 24 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 190 | 83% | — | $52,309 |
| 25 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 184 | 87% | — | $45,075 |
| 26 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 182 | 76% | — | $44,125 |
| 27 | West Valley College Saratoga, CAPublicAssociate's | 178 | 51% | — | — |
| 28 | Golden West College Huntington Beach, CAPublicAssociate's | 175 | 49% | — | — |
| 29 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CAPublicAssociate's | 166 | 31% | — | — |
| 30 | Sierra College Rocklin, CAPublicAssociate's | 158 | 42% | — | — |
| 31 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 158 | 77% | — | $47,351 |
| 32 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CAPublicAssociate's | 157 | 48% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Houston Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 150 | 65% | — | $50,820 |
| 34 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor's | 149 | 74% | — | $42,314 |
| 35 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 149 | 84% | $28,851 | $55,974 |
| 36 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor's | 148 | 75% | — | $52,635 |
| 37 | CUNY City College New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 135 | 57% | — | $45,556 |
| 38 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicBachelor's | 132 | 56% | — | $49,312 |
| 39 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 123 | 87% | $24,533 | $69,288 |
| 40 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 121 | 89% | $20,914 | $56,416 |
| 41 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NYPublicBachelor's | 120 | 53% | — | $39,377 |
| 42 | Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto, CAPublicAssociate's | 118 | 36% | — | — |
| 43 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 116 | 57% | — | $34,580 |
| 44 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 114 | 85% | — | $56,902 |
| 45 | Southwestern College Chula Vista, CAPublicAssociate's | 112 | 35% | — | — |
| 46 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CAPublicAssociate's | 108 | 45% | — | — |
| 47 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 108 | 81% | $13,712 | $63,332 |
| 48 | Folsom Lake College Folsom, CAPublicAssociate's | 98 | 44% | — | — |
| 49 | El Camino Community College District Torrance, CAPublicAssociate's | 95 | 42% | — | — |
| 50 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor's | 94 | 73% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Economics field (CIP 45.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 52 states & territories
Where Economics graduates come from. Each state links to all Economics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Economics program can pursue careers as economists, managers, or educators, among other roles. The job outlook for economists shows little to no change, with approximately 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440. A master's degree is typically required for advanced positions in this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0601
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Economistsprimary SOC 19-3011 | $124,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~900 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Science Research Assistants SOC 19-4061 | $61,990 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~5,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Survey Researchers SOC 19-3022 | $69,460 | -5.2% Decline | ~700 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Economics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Tools and technology used
Other Economics specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Economics (CIP 45.06).
- Econometrics and Quantitative EconomicsCIP 45.060322,866 graduates / yr320 institutions
- Development Economics and International DevelopmentCIP 45.0604384 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Applied EconomicsCIP 45.0602378 graduates / yr28 institutions
- International EconomicsCIP 45.0605204 graduates / yr18 institutions
- EconomicsCIP 45.0699143 graduates / yr24 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Economics?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or a Master's degree in Economics.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, data analysis, and communication.
What careers can I pursue with an Economics degree?+
Career options include economists, managers, secondary school teachers, and social science research assistants.
What is the job outlook for economists?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with around 900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Economics?+
Economics is CIP 45.0601 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Economics (CIP 45.06). NCES defines it as: A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
How many institutions offer Economics programs?+
638 U.S. institutions reported Economics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 52 states & territories, awarding 19,798 credentials in the year. That is 45.2% of all Economics graduates.
How much do Economics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which Economics most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Economics field report median earnings of $49,576 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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