Best colleges for Economics in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Virginia, Washington and Lee University and William & Mary are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. University of Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,958, College Scorecard. University of Virginia, George Mason University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University award the most Economics degrees in Virginia: 385, 157 and 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Virginia colleges offer Economics and award 1,093 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 Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,958 | 385 | 96% | — | $19,000 |
| 2 | Washington and Lee University Lexington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,737 | 33 | 94% | $11,983 | $23,399 |
| 3 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,603 | 114 | 89% | — | $19,678 |
| 4 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $62,286 | 73 | 80% | — | $18,575 |
| 5 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $61,027 | 41 | 85% | $24,049 | $23,000 |
| 6 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,261 | 137 | 86% | — | $22,500 |
| 7 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,024 | 157 | 68% | — | $21,500 |
| 8 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $52,155 | 22 | 62% | $21,034 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,046 | 45 | 76% | — | $23,250 |
| 10 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,309 | 32 | 72% | — | $23,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Virginia
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 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 385 | $74,958 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 157 | $53,024 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 137 | $56,261 |
| 4 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 114 | $65,603 |
| 5 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 73 | $62,286 |
| 6 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public | 45 | $46,046 |
| 7 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit | 41 | $61,027 |
| 8 | Washington and Lee University Lexington Private not-for-profit | 33 | $71,737 |
| 9 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 32 | $45,309 |
| 10 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney Private not-for-profit | 22 | $52,155 |
ShowHide the other 14 Virginia colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 11 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 10 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 8 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 6 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 4 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of Virginia (385 graduates a year), George Mason University (157 graduates a year) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (137 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Virginia colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Virginia leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $74,958, College Scorecard. Washington and Lee University and William & Mary follow. By degrees awarded, University of Virginia is the largest, with 385 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $74,958. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $144,880 (median $137,590), across about 950 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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