How much do Economics bachelor's degree graduates from Northwestern University earn?

The reported median is $126,006 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $16,227.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 52% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Economics bachelor's degree at Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$43,320 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 12.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $157,515 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +173% · Strong payoff
Available price data: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$630,060

$20,000Annual price+$550,060

$29,000Current college-wide context+$514,060

$40,000Annual price+$470,060

$60,000Annual price+$390,060

$80,000Annual price+$310,060

$100,000Annual price+$230,060

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+48%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$84,932 → $125,639

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

161Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

159Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$45,947Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

327Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

106Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

154Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

153Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

190Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$126,006$91,198 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$29,167

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$16,227

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$126,006

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$172/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$29,167Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$91,250Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE7.7%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE95.1%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$84,932Year 1

$126,006Year 4

$125,639Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

1.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$10,501

Estimated loan payment$172

159borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$126,006 vs. $82,686

$43,320 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$140,240 median wageIL estimate · 31,680 jobs · 11-9199$107,690–$180,860 middle 50% of IL wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary$124,850 median wageIL estimate · 460 jobs · 25-1063$86,890–$166,630 middle 50% of IL wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEconomists$124,720 median wageU.S. estimate · 17,790 jobs · 19-3011+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeSocial Science Research Assistants$64,890 median wageIL estimate · 250 jobs · 19-4061$47,720–$74,700 middle 50% of IL wages+5.0% projected U.S. growth · 4,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSurvey Researchers$54,080 median wageIL estimate · 320 jobs · 19-3022$54,080–$104,420 middle 50% of IL wages-4.8% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeStatisticians$119,760 median wageIL estimate · 480 jobs · 15-2041$95,490–$141,360 middle 50% of IL wages+11.0% projected U.S. growth · 1,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$106,560 median wageIL estimate · 10,520 jobs · 15-2051$84,610–$137,290 middle 50% of IL wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$79,990 median wageIL estimate · 44,670 jobs · 25-2031$62,330–$104,670 middle 50% of IL wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$79,120 median wageIL estimate · 40,560 jobs · 13-1161$60,210–$104,800 middle 50% of IL wages+7.0% projected U.S. growth · 82,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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