by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 828 U.S. colleges awarded 48,196 degrees and certificates in Economics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 465 schools in its 2027 Best Economics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $56,341 one year after completing, rising to $87,817 after four years.
Economics is the study of production, distribution, and consumption of goods. This is a vast and interesting subject that affects every person in society. Your classes will examine how a society chooses to spend their time and money, including how money is spent in government as well as household finances. Other subjects involve methods of buying and selling, inflation, and interest rates. Mathematics and statistics are important areas in this major.
Courses you can expect to see in Economics are statistics, accounting, calculus, business economics, developmental economics, economic theory, microeconomics, macroeconomics, money and banking, economic history in the United States, and international trade.
You may be able to choose a concentration in this major. Examples of some of the specializations available are Applied Economics; Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; Development Economics and International Development; and International Economics.
Studying Economics covers Economics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, economics is a widely-pursued major, with 48,196 degrees awarded annually. 828 colleges award economics degrees, an average of 58 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,079.
By level, the 48,196 awards include 5,235 associate degrees, 36,332 bachelor’s degrees, 5,251 master’s degrees and 1,378 doctorates.
Women earned 37% of economics degrees and certificates in the latest year (17,686 of 48,196). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18,677) and Hispanic or Latino (6,529), and international students earned 10,783.
College Factual ranks 465 schools in its 2027 Best Economics Schools ranking, including 70 for associate degrees, 375 for bachelor’s degrees, 114 for master’s degrees and 54 for doctorates. It also ranks economics schools within 50 states. In all, 828 colleges offer economics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Economics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common economics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 36,332 of the 48,196 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to economics call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Students should have an interest in business and economics and not be afraid of a math-heavy course load. You will use critical thinking skills to study the allocation and distribution of scarce resources, as well as logic and reasoning to solve complex problems, analyze data and observe patterns. Mathematical formulas and statistics will help you research data and come up with predictions of future trends.
In addition to sharp mathematical abilities, students will also need good communication skills in order to clearly explain your work in presentations and reports. Your findings should be presented in a way that makes it easy for those outside the subject to understand. Collaboration with peers will help you gain different approaches of solving a problem.
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How long an economics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,235 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36,332 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,251 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,378 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to economics, at 39.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
20 occupations are related to Economics, with an average median salary of $105,888; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, College Faculty Member, University Faculty Member and Economics Adjunct Instructor.
Graduates with a degree in Economics are prepared to work as economists in a variety of positions researching and providing data for government organizations or private companies. Obtaining a Master's degree or Ph.D. may make you more competitive in the field; however it is not required for many positions.
The occupation related to economics with the most projected jobs is Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 830,747.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 830,747 | 2.9% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Statisticians | 307,132 | 6.6% |
Economics graduates earn a median $56,341 one year after completing their program, $87,817 after four years and $88,018 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $56,341 |
| 4 years | $87,817 |
| 5 years | $88,018 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to economics is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Statisticians | $130,349 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Biostatisticians | $121,594 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
Economics includes 6 concentrations that together award 48,196 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (25,410), Economics, General (21,619) and Development Economics and International Development (410). It has 13 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 140,000 degrees a year; the largest are Political Science and Government (45,425), Sociology (30,816) and Social Sciences, General (17,558). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Econometrics and Quantitative Economics | 25,410 |
| Economics, General | 21,619 |
| Development Economics and International Development | 410 |
| Applied Economics | 400 |
| International Economics | 206 |
| Economics, Other | 151 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | 45,425 |
| Sociology | 30,816 |
| Social Sciences, General | 17,558 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 12,780 |
| Criminology | 10,920 |
| Anthropology | 10,836 |
| Geography and Cartography | 7,459 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 1,820 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 1,300 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 574 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
