Economics bachelor's degree programs in Pennsylvania
Compare 31 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.
Highest reported earnings in Pennsylvania
Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.
1Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh · $22,020 federal debt$144,8862University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia · $14,000 federal debt$129,9853Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore · $19,500 federal debt$128,0514Lafayette CollegeEaston · $19,500 federal debt$112,8645Haverford CollegeHaverford · Debt not reported$112,0506Bucknell UniversityLewisburg · $25,888 federal debt$108,4227Villanova UniversityVillanova · $27,000 federal debt$100,2888Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia · $29,000 federal debt$98,1789Gettysburg CollegeGettysburg · $27,000 federal debt$94,29510Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville · $27,000 federal debt$93,878
CAREER CONTEXT IN PA
What related occupations pay in Pennsylvania
These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.
11-9199Managers, All Other
- State median wage
- $131,600
- Middle 50% wage range
- $99,060–$171,340
- State employment
- 20,170
- Projected growth
- +4.9%
- Annual openings
- 100,900
25-1063Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
- State median wage
- $117,970
- Middle 50% wage range
- $97,360–$129,900
- State employment
- 610
- Projected growth
- +2.4%
- Annual openings
- 1,000
19-3011Economists
- State median wage
- $115,000
- Middle 50% wage range
- $81,470–$138,010
- State employment
- 560
- Projected growth
- +4.7%
- Annual openings
- 1,100
19-4061Social Science Research Assistants
- State median wage
- $54,610
- Middle 50% wage range
- $48,590–$64,790
- State employment
- 860
- Projected growth
- +5.0%
- Annual openings
- 4,900
19-3022Survey Researchers
- State median wage
- $63,310
- Middle 50% wage range
- $51,510–$74,030
- State employment
- Not reported
- Projected growth
- -4.8%
- Annual openings
- 600
15-2051Data Scientists
- State median wage
- $106,850
- Middle 50% wage range
- $79,220–$129,160
- State employment
- 13,810
- Projected growth
- +34.6%
- Annual openings
- 24,800
15-2041Statisticians
- State median wage
- $93,830
- Middle 50% wage range
- $71,580–$132,380
- State employment
- 1,630
- Projected growth
- +11.0%
- Annual openings
- 1,900
25-2031Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- State median wage
- $78,800
- Middle 50% wage range
- $61,750–$92,980
- State employment
- 52,240
- Projected growth
- -0.2%
- Annual openings
- 63,500
Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Pennsylvania; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.
ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS
Compare every available outcome
Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.
| # | College | City | Median year-4 earnings | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | $144,886 | $22,020 |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | $129,985 | $14,000 |
| 3 | Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | $128,051 | $19,500 |
| 4 | Lafayette College | Easton | $112,864 | $19,500 |
| 5 | Haverford College | Haverford | $112,050 | Not available |
| 6 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg | $108,422 | $25,888 |
| 7 | Villanova University | Villanova | $100,288 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Drexel University | Philadelphia | $98,178 | $29,000 |
| 9 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | $94,295 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Lebanon Valley College | Annville | $93,878 | $27,000 |
| 11 | Muhlenberg College | Allentown | $93,760 | $25,298 |
| 12 | Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | $90,368 | $23,048 |
| 13 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | $87,943 | Not available |
| 14 | Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | $82,999 | Not available |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | University Park | $81,228 | $25,000 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park | $81,228 | $25,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | $81,228 | $25,000 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | $81,228 | $25,000 |
| 19 | Allegheny College | Meadville | $79,018 | $27,000 |
| 20 | Dickinson College | Carlisle | $78,378 | $19,000 |
| 21 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | $76,549 | $25,782 |
| 22 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | $76,549 | $25,782 |
| 23 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | $76,549 | $25,782 |
| 24 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | $75,865 | $27,000 |
| 25 | Ursinus College | Collegeville | $75,573 | $27,000 |
| 26 | Moravian University | Bethlehem | $74,527 | $26,848 |
| 27 | Temple University | Philadelphia | $73,154 | $24,250 |
| 28 | Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | $72,305 | $27,000 |
| 29 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | $69,371 | Not available |
| 30 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | $65,946 | Not available |
| 31 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | $62,798 | Not available |
This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.
A quick read on Economics in Pennsylvania
What do Economics bachelor's degree graduates earn in Pennsylvania?
Across 31 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $81,228 four years after completion.
How much federal debt is reported for these programs?
The median is $25,782 among the 25 programs reporting federal debt.
Which Pennsylvania colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?
The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Carnegie Mellon University has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.