Economics major
Economics: courses, careers, and where to study
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
An Economics major covers microeconomics (consumer and firm behavior, market structure), macroeconomics (growth, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy), and econometrics (statistical analysis of economic data). Coursework requires calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and most departments now strongly recommend or require advanced econometrics. The major often comes in two flavors: a BA (lighter math) and a BS or "Mathematical Economics" (heavier math, recommended for PhD-bound students).
Economics graduates are sought by financial services, consulting, government, tech (data and product analytics), and academia. The major pairs well with a CS minor for technical roles or a Math/Statistics double for quantitative finance.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Economics maps to CIP 45.0601, Economics, General, within the SOCIAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Economics is awarded as
Of the 45,417 Economics credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%289
- Associate10%4,336
- Bachelor's75%34,256
- Graduate14%6,536
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 44 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 2 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Microeconomic theory
- Macroeconomic theory
- Econometrics (regression, time series, causal inference)
- Calculus, linear algebra, probability
- Field electives: labor, public, international, behavioral
- Game theory
- Economic history or development
- Senior research paper
Typical careers
- Financial Analyst
- Management Consultant
- Data Analyst / Economist
- Policy Analyst
- Investment Banker
- PhD Economist (academia)
Typical salary range: $60,000–$90,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 economists median $115,440)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Economics, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | 106,700 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $58,040 | 5,200 | +4.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,980 | 1,200 | +2.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Economists | $115,440 | 900 | +1.2% | Master's degree |
| Survey Researchers | $63,380 | 700 | -5.2% | Master's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 6 of these 6 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Economics does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Economics major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Economics program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Economics department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Economics program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Economics credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of California-Los AngelesCA · 1,017
- University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · 838
- University of ChicagoIL · 828
- University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · 804
- New York UniversityNY · 774
- University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · 729
- University of California-BerkeleyCA · 707
- Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · 645
- Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · 528
- University of California-DavisCA · 487
- University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · 486
- Texas A & M University-College StationTX · 483
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Economics credentials were awarded
11 states have a distinct enough set of Economics colleges to be worth its own page.
Related majors
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
Finance
Finance majors learn how money moves, corporate finance, investments, financial markets, and risk management, preparing for roles in banking, investments, and corporate analysis.
Business Administration
Business Administration is the most popular U.S. major, a broad foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and economics that prepares graduates for nearly any industry.
Political Science
Political Science studies governments, political behavior, and policy, preparing graduates for law school, public service, journalism, and policy research.
Still deciding between Economics and something else?
These guides put Economicsside by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Economics degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Education & Library careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Economics degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Economics path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.