Social Sciences
Economics
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. Covers 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.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 6 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Economics, General
- 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. Covers 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.
- Applied Economics
- Focuses on the application of economic principles and analytical techniques to the study of particular industries, activities, or the exploitation of particular resources. Covers economic theory; microeconomic analysis and modeling of specific industries, commodities; the economic consequences of resource allocation decisions; regulatory and consumer factors; and the technical aspects of specific subjects as they relate to economic analysis.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- Focuses on the systematic study of mathematical and statistical analysis of economic phenomena and problems. Covers economic statistics, optimization theory, cost/benefit analysis, price theory, economic modeling, and economic forecasting and evaluation.
- Development Economics and International Development
- Focuses on the systematic study of the economic development process and its application to the problems of specific countries and regions. Covers economic development theory, industrialization, land reform, infrastructural development, investment policy, the role of governments and business in development, international development organizations, and the study of social, health, and environmental influences on economic development.
- International Economics
- Focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy. Covers international trade theory, tariffs and quotas, commercial policy, trade factor flows, international finance and investment, currency regulation and trade exchange rates and markets, international trade negotiation, and international payments and accounting policy.
- Economics, Other
- Economics not listed above.
Also called Behavioral and Experimental Economics
Also called Cost Analysis, Economic Forecasting
Also called Game Theory
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.9%
- Job openings a year
- 100,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingMarket Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Median pay
- $78,760
- Hiring change through 2035
- 7.0%
- Job openings a year
- 82,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career ShrinkingSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Median pay
- $72,040
- Hiring change through 2035
- −0.2%
- Job openings a year
- 63,500
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastData Scientists
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Hiring change through 2035
- 34.6%
- Job openings a year
- 24,800
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingSocial Science Research Assistants
- Median pay
- $61,990
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.0%
- Job openings a year
- 4,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyEconomists
- Median pay
- $124,720
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.7%
- Job openings a year
- 1,100
To get hiredMaster's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyEconomics Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $123,920
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.4%
- Job openings a year
- 1,000
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career ShrinkingSurvey Researchers
- Median pay
- $69,460
- Hiring change through 2035
- −4.8%
- Job openings a year
- 600
To get hiredMaster's degree
Explore this career Growing fastStatisticians
- Median pay
- $105,650
- Hiring change through 2035
- 11.0%
- Job openings a year
- 1,900
To get hiredMaster's degree
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $45,955 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
This field leads to a mix of in-person and computer-based work. About 23 of every 100 openings require working close to other people or spending time on your feet.
College options
Where to study it
Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.
| College | Degrees a year | Earnings, first year out | Admit rate | Average annual cost after aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley CA | 909 | $71,330 | 12% | $10,000 |
| University of California-Los Angeles CA | 830 | $52,741 | 9% | $10,000 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara CA | 696 | $59,465 | 28% | $13,000 |
| University of Chicago IL | 622 | $82,564 | 5% | $0 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI | 608 | $62,024 | 18% | $5,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison WI | 587 | $48,053 | 43% | $8,000 |
| New York University NY | 540 | $60,699 | 9% | $17,000 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA | 492 | $62,202 | 17% | $13,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC | 443 | $57,311 | 19% | $9,000 |
| University of California-Davis CA | 417 | $44,249 | 42% | $12,000 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst MA | 417 | $49,510 | 58% | $13,000 |
| University of Connecticut CT | 390 | $47,530 | 54% | $21,000 |
| University of California-Irvine CA | 386 | $40,188 | 26% | $12,000 |
| Northwestern University IL | 373 | $71,488 | 7% | $8,000 |
| University of California-San Diego CA | 364 | $42,370 | 25% | $10,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York NY | 360 | $73,902 | 4% | $6,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA | 356 | $45,928 | 54% | $26,000 |
| University of Florida FL | 335 | $45,380 | 24% | $7,000 |
| Boston College MA | 335 | $64,785 | 16% | $13,000 |
| Utah State University UT | 329 | $49,648 | 94% | $14,000 |
| University of Maryland-College Park MD | 320 | $49,898 | 45% | $10,000 |
| Texas A & M University-College Station TX | 318 | $47,856 | 63% | $17,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL | 315 | $50,008 | 44% | $8,000 |
| Boston University MA | 307 | $53,654 | 11% | $12,000 |
| Binghamton University NY | 302 | $44,831 | 38% | $20,000 |
| University of California-Riverside CA | 299 | $35,836 | 63% | $13,000 |
| Stony Brook University NY | 295 | $44,546 | 49% | $21,000 |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX | 294 | $50,245 | 29% | $17,000 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA | 287 | $49,591 | 43% | $8,000 |
| Vanderbilt University TN | 286 | $72,741 | 6% | $4,000 |
| Michigan State University MI | 274 | $48,199 | 84% | $17,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder CO | 272 | $44,089 | 83% | $19,000 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus OH | 272 | $42,908 | 51% | $10,000 |
| Harvard University MA | 258 | $89,515 | 3% | $2,000 |
| University of Notre Dame IN | 256 | $69,070 | 12% | $11,000 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN | 256 | $50,320 | 77% | $10,000 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ | 253 | $49,765 | 65% | $18,000 |
| Florida State University FL | 244 | $39,699 | 25% | $10,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania PA | 238 | $72,198 | 6% | $10,000 |
| CUNY Queens College NY | 230 | $40,122 | 69% | $7,000 |