Best colleges for Economics in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Whitman College and Western Washington University are the top bachelor's Economics programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,934, College Scorecard. University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Whitman College award the most Economics degrees in Washington: 264, 61 and 39 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Washington colleges offer Economics and award 525 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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,934 | 264 | 85% | — | $14,166 |
| 2 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,832 | 39 | 81% | $28,508 | $17,500 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,401 | 31 | 65% | — | $19,000 |
| 4 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,845 | 21 | 86% | $30,006 | $22,500 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,762 | 61 | 60% | — | $25,656 |
| 6 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,368 | 21 | 43% | — | $21,809 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $63,134 | 18 | 71% | $23,510 | — |
| 8 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $52,129 | 13 | 54% | — | $15,000 |
| 9 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,153 | 14 | 68% | $35,057 | $26,031 |
| 10 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,806 | 8 | 69% | $19,944 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Washington
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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 264 | $53,934 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 61 | $39,762 |
| 3 | Whitman College Walla Walla Private not-for-profit | 39 | $46,832 |
| 4 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 31 | $45,401 |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 21 | $37,368 |
| 6 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 21 | $44,845 |
| 7 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 18 | $63,134 |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 15 | $41,502 |
| 9 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 14 | $48,153 |
| 10 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 13 | $52,129 |
ShowHide the other 4 Washington colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | Tacoma | Public | 11 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education | Kirkland | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (264 graduates a year), Washington State University (61 graduates a year) and Whitman College (39 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Washington colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Economics programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,934, College Scorecard. Whitman College and Western Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the largest, with 264 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $53,934. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $120,550 (median $109,300), across about 450 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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