Economics graduates from University of Chicago earn $159,578 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $13,395.
Economics at University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Economics at University of Chicago
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Chicago and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Economics at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 634 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Chicago, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $159,578 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $75,993 across all institutions offering Economics, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of Chicago, the mean median-earnings figure is $94,503, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Economics graduates at University of Chicago is $13,395, which translates to roughly $112 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.08 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Economics at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Williams College | $166,678 | $12,925 |
| Duke University | $161,149 | $13,187 |
| Princeton University | $160,763 | $11,250 |
| University of Chicago (this school) | $159,578 | $13,395 |
| Harvard University | $155,592 | $6,617 |
| Dartmouth College | $152,929 | $18,132 |
| Claremont McKenna College | $146,524 | $12,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | $144,886 | $22,020 |
| Yale University | $142,936 | $12,562 |
| Amherst College | $141,730 | $16,662 |
Other Programs at University of Chicago
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Law | $279,203 | $188,691 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $243,256 | $92,529 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $190,915 | $52,045 |
| Computer Programming | $179,964 | — |
| Computer Science | $178,068 | — |
| Mathematics | $172,826 | $12,000 |
| Computer Science | $169,765 | $80,205 |
| Statistics | $161,842 | $48,437 |
| Economics (current) | $159,578 | $13,395 |
| Statistics | $130,189 | — |
Other Schools with Economics
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.