Economics at American University
Washington, DC · Bachelor's Degree · about 71 graduates a year
American University graduates in economics earn 3% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 26% of one year’s pay at that point.
How American University Compares for Economics
All 368 colleges reporting economics earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williams College Williamstown, MA | $166,678 | $146,777 | #5 | $80,888 |
| 2 | Duke University Durham, NC | $161,149 | $172,936 | #1 | $98,649 |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | $160,763 | $141,099 | #6 | $103,041 |
| 4 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | $159,578 | $156,784 | #2 | $92,075 |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | $155,592 | $137,015 | #8 | $103,993 |
| 6 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | $152,929 | $140,863 | #7 | $94,675 |
| 7 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $146,524 | $133,327 | #9 | $89,505 |
| 8 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $144,886 | $147,350 | #4 | $86,284 |
| 9 | Yale University New Haven, CT | $142,936 | $128,688 | #17 | $82,617 |
| 10 | Amherst College Amherst, MA | $141,730 | $124,808 | #19 | $90,568 |
| … | |||||
| 134 | Macalester College Saint Paul, MN | $85,593 | $81,760 | #142 | $59,752 |
| 135 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | $85,366 | $88,827 | #103 | $54,495 |
| 136 | Utah State University Logan, UT | $85,136 | $80,689 | #151 | $60,472 |
| 137 | American University Washington, DC | $85,016 | $74,496 | #225 | $58,151 |
| 138 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL | $84,829 | $83,344 | #131 | $62,889 |
| 139 | Morehouse College Atlanta, GA | $84,816 | $87,802 | #106 | $40,726 |
| 140 | St. John's University-New York Queens, NY | $84,639 | $80,559 | #155 | $45,301 |
Other Economics Credentials at American University
| Credential | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $86,903 | $103,169 | $46,108 |
Other Majors at American University by Graduate Pay
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do American University economics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $58,151 one year after graduating and $85,016 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does American University rank for economics?
Among 368 colleges reporting earnings for economics graduates, American University ranks #137 by median pay four years after graduation, and #225 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is economics at American University worth it?
Its graduates earn 3% more than the national median for economics ($82,686), and the median federal debt at graduation is $22,191.
← All data for American University · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.