Economics at Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Bachelor's Degree · about 286 graduates a year
Vanderbilt University graduates in economics earn 70% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 9% of one year’s pay at that point.
How Vanderbilt 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 |
| 11 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN | $140,337 | $153,303 | #3 | $84,311 |
| 12 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY | $137,935 | $131,286 | #13 | $84,967 |
| 13 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | $137,710 | $131,071 | #14 | $83,135 |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $135,050 | $122,887 | #22 | $80,446 |
Other Majors at Vanderbilt University by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $160,021 | $122,244 | #23 of 349 |
| Mathematics | $141,171 | $103,812 | #5 of 309 |
| Chemical Engineering | $121,641 | $75,639 | #2 of 158 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $116,662 | $63,402 | #3 of 118 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $114,368 | $47,208 | #1 of 225 |
| Social Sciences | $103,229 | $61,389 | #1 of 87 |
| Political Science and Government | $102,789 | $46,843 | #3 of 565 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $101,345 | $78,009 | #33 of 318 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $91,265 | $57,023 | #6 of 34 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $86,559 | $37,276 | #9 of 207 |
| Sociology | $83,649 | — | #3 of 462 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,744 | — | #150 of 233 |
| Engineering Science | — | $81,126 | — |
| Psychology | $71,584 | $36,716 | #22 of 1027 |
| History | $69,820 | $46,856 | #25 of 459 |
| English Language and Literature | $60,439 | $34,633 | #53 of 576 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $59,575 | $25,830 | #38 of 67 |
| Music | $59,217 | — | #10 of 268 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $55,188 | — | #97 of 680 |
| Cognitive Science | — | $38,752 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Vanderbilt University economics graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $84,311 one year after graduating and $140,337 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does Vanderbilt University rank for economics?
Among 368 colleges reporting earnings for economics graduates, Vanderbilt University ranks #11 by median pay four years after graduation, and #3 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is economics at Vanderbilt University worth it?
Its graduates earn 70% more than the national median for economics ($82,686), and the median federal debt at graduation is $12,000.
← All data for Vanderbilt 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.