Best colleges for Economics in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rice University, Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Rice University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,814, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - College Station and Southern Methodist University award the most Economics degrees in Texas: 551, 430 and 267 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Texas colleges offer Economics and award 2,050 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 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,814 | 105 | 95% | $13,264 | $11,289 |
| 2 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,630 | 267 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,500 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,717 | 551 | 89% | — | $21,125 |
| 4 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,462 | 98 | 86% | $25,823 | $19,500 |
| 5 | University of North Texas Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,316 | 32 | 61% | — | $23,619 |
| 6 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,820 | 195 | 65% | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,738 | 430 | 84% | — | $19,500 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,034 | 64 | 76% | — | $20,748 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,416 | 37 | 54% | — | $20,500 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,292 | 73 | 69% | — | $27,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Texas
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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 551 | $58,717 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 430 | $49,738 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit | 267 | $71,630 |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston Public | 195 | $50,820 |
| 5 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit | 105 | $78,814 |
| 6 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 98 | $54,462 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 73 | $44,292 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 64 | $47,034 |
| 9 | Baylor University Waco Private not-for-profit | 40 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 37 | $46,416 |
ShowHide the other 19 Texas colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Texas | Denton | Public | 32 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Blinn College District | Brenham | Public | 17 |
| Trinity University | San Antonio | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | Public | 15 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Public | 14 |
| Texas State University | San Marcos | Public | 13 |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso | Public | 13 |
| Southwestern University | Georgetown | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| University of Dallas | Irving | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Austin College | Sherman | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of St Thomas | Houston | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Saint Edward's University | Austin | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| St. Mary's University | San Antonio | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio | Public | 2 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Public | 2 |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville | Public | 1 |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
The University of Texas at Austin (551 graduates a year), Texas A&M University - College Station (430 graduates a year) and Southern Methodist University (267 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Texas colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Rice University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,814, College Scorecard. Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest, with 551 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rice University tops the list at $78,814. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Economists earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Economists in Texas is $135,080 (median $121,420), 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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