by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in economics, no school beat University Of Vermont this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $23,875. Economics graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $38,452 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Middlebury College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,600. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,500. Economics graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $85,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.