Virginia · Economics

Best Economics institutions in Virginia, 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
27
offering CIP 45.06
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
970
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$56,261
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
12
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,034
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
66%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Economists
$149,770
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 Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree
$74,95828096%$19,000
2Washington and Lee University
Lexington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$71,7372894%$11,983$23,399
3William & Mary
Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$65,6036889%$19,678
4James Madison University
Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$62,2867780%$18,575
5University of Richmond
University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$61,0275185%$24,049$23,000
6Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$56,26112886%$22,500
7George Mason University
Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree
$53,02415768%$21,500
8Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$52,1552562%$21,034$27,000
9Virginia Military Institute
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$46,0464676%$23,250
10Christopher Newport University
Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,3093972%$23,125

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 Virginia

Jobs in Virginia
970
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$149,770
median $148,010
Best-paying metro
$143,270
Richmond, VA

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$91,410 avg · 24,870 jobs
Data Scientists
$132,230 avg · 6,200 jobs
Economists
$149,770 avg · 970 jobs
Statisticians
$111,760 avg · 800 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Virginia.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of Virginia - Main Campus tops the list at $74,958. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Economists in Virginia is $149,770 (median $148,010), across about 970 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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