Washington · Economics

Best Economics institutions in Washington, 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
15
offering CIP 45.06
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
530
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$45,401
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
11
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,831
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
67%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Economists
$128,120
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
1Whitworth University
Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$63,1341971%$23,510
2University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree
$53,93425885%$14,166
3Central Washington University
Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$52,1291454%$15,000
4University of Puget Sound
Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$48,1531868%$35,057$26,031
5Whitman College
Walla Walla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$46,8322381%$28,508$17,500
6Western Washington University
Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,4014865%$19,000
7Gonzaga University
Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$44,8451886%$30,006$22,500
8Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$43,806769%$19,944
9Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,5021062%$24,653$26,835
10Washington State University
Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,7627360%$25,656

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 Washington

Jobs in Washington
470
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$128,120
median $116,390
Best-paying metro
$146,040
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
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Social Science Research Assistants
$53,190 avg · 500 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Washington.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Whitworth University tops the list at $63,134. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in Washington?+

The average annual wage for Economists in Washington is $128,120 (median $116,390), across about 470 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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