Best Colleges and Universities for Economics Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST FOR ECONOMICS COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

The best economics degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best economics degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding economics faculty.

Key Takeaways

  • Many leading universities, such as Stanford, offer a variety of specializations, including environmental economics, behavioral economics, and international trade, allowing students to tailor their education and collaborate across disciplines like public policy, business, and law.
  • Top schools like the University of Chicago offer advanced coursework in econometrics, data analysis, and game theory, alongside access to renowned research centers such as the Becker Friedman Institute, allowing students to engage in cutting-edge economic research and policy analysis.
  • Universities like New York University (NYU) and Georgetown University provide students with access to internships and networking opportunities in major financial districts like Wall Street or policymaking institutions in Washington, D.C., giving them real-world exposure to the economic field.

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top schools in our ranking of the best colleges and universities for economics degrees saw a fair amount of movement. The University of Arizona raised the most ranking positions as a result of the school improving its Economics Data Lab, which provides students with access to advanced software and data analytics tools for conducting research on global markets, financial systems, and policy impacts. Additionally, the university has added new interdisciplinary courses that integrate economics with environmental sustainability, focusing on the economics of climate change and resource management.

The Global Economics Fellowship Program has also been strengthened, offering students more opportunities for international internships, research projects, and study abroad experiences that focus on global economic systems and development. These updates offer economics students hands-on learning and research experiences in both local and global contexts.

A bachelor’s degree in economics is an excellent starting point for a career in finance, policy development, marketing, and a host of other highly lucrative fields. As an economics major, you’ll study production, consumption, wealth transfer, and the way these activities relate to policy and governance. Your economics degree will also incorporate such core principles of monetary policy, budget planning, and cost analysis. The best schools for economics are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of economics concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: Economics bachelor’s degrees are the 35th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It’s most popular among Asian Americans and Pacific Islander men and women, for whom it ranks as the 17th most desired degree, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics

Featured Programs

The Best Colleges and Universities for Economics Degrees

  1. #1

    Harvard University

    Cambridge , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    3%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    39K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/35

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Harvard University

    Cost of Degree: $59,076
    Expenses: $27,629
    Starting Salary: $149,005
    Salary after 4 years: $196,249
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  2. #2

    University of Chicago

    Chicago , IL
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    21K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1540/34

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of Chicago

    Cost of Degree: $65,619
    Expenses: $23,421
    Starting Salary: $110,334
    Salary after 4 years: $145,317
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  3. #3

    Yale University

    New Haven , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    5%

    Graduation

    98%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1540/34

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Yale University

    Cost of Degree: $64,700
    Expenses: $23,600
    Starting Salary: $133,258
    Salary after 4 years: $175,509
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  4. #4

    Princeton University

    Princeton , NJ
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    6%

    Graduation

    97%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1535/34

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Princeton University

    Cost of Degree: $59,710
    Expenses: $24,330
    Starting Salary: $124,581
    Salary after 4 years: $164,081
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cost of Degree: $60,156
    Expenses: $22,574
    Starting Salary: $164,537
    Salary after 4 years: $216,706
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  6. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    68%

    Student body

    54K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1255/25

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of Arizona

    Cost of Degree: $13,277
    Expenses: $19,500
    Starting Salary: $52,560
    Salary after 4 years: $69,178
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Arizona’s Online Degrees

    BA in Africana Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Administration of Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Care, Health and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Emergency Medical Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Cyber Operations
    Degree Concentrations
    • Engineering
    • Defense & Forensics
    • and Cyber Law & Policy
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Early Childhood
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Environmental Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Global Media
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Government and Public Service
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Human Rights Practice
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Required Credits: 128
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Information Science and ESociety
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Organizational Leadership
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Law
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Regional Commerce
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Philosophy: Ethics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nutritional Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Spanish
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Public Health
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sustainable Built Environments
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  7. #7

    Wesleyan University

    Middletown , CT
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Wesleyan University

    Cost of Degree: $67,016
    Expenses: $21,704
    Starting Salary: $67,915
    Salary after 4 years: $89,448
    Cost Recoup Time: 16 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  8. #8

    Amherst College

    Amherst , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $64K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1485/33

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Amherst College

    Cost of Degree: $67,280
    Expenses: $20,360
    Starting Salary: $89,232
    Salary after 4 years: $117,524
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  9. #9

    Swarthmore College

    Swarthmore , PA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    94%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1500/33

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Swarthmore College

    Cost of Degree: $62,412
    Expenses: $21,691
    Starting Salary: $74,984
    Salary after 4 years: $98,759
    Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  10. #10

    Williams College

    Williamstown , MA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    8%

    Graduation

    95%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1525/34

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Williams College

    Cost of Degree: $64,860
    Expenses: $20,000
    Starting Salary: $96,194
    Salary after 4 years: $126,694
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Acceptance

    73%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1180/21

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Cost of Degree: $12,186
    Expenses: $20,145
    Starting Salary: $48,618
    Salary after 4 years: $63,989
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Online Degrees

    BA in Economics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Human Relations In Organizations
    • Social Sciences Of Oceans
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSW in Social Work
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Women'S, Gender, And Sexuality Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  12. #12

    Claremont McKenna College

    Claremont , CA
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $61K

    Acceptance

    10%

    Graduation

    91%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/34

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Claremont McKenna College

    Cost of Degree: $64,150
    Expenses: $22,350
    Starting Salary: $99,836
    Salary after 4 years: $131,491
    Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary
  13. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Graduation

    39%

    Student body

    11K

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Cost of Degree: $10,016
    Expenses: $16,700
    Starting Salary: $42,329
    Salary after 4 years: $55,713
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    University of Alaska Fairbanks’s Online Degrees

    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAAS in Interdisciplinary Studies
    Degree Concentrations
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BBA in Business Administration
    Degree Concentrations
    • Finance
    • General Business
    • Leadership
    • Marketing
    • Sport Management
    • Economics
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Biological Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BSEM in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
    Degree Concentrations
    • Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management
    • Emergency Management
    • Emergency Medical and Public Health Management
    • Fire Administration
    • Homeland Security
    • Law Enforcement Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in History
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Communication
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BBA in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Biological Sciences
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAM in Applied Management
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  14. #14

    Missouri State University

    Springfield , MO
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    58%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1101/23

    Career Outlook for Economics degree at Missouri State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,024
    Expenses: $16,024
    Starting Salary: $41,766
    Salary after 4 years: $54,972
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Missouri State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Health Services
    Degree Concentrations
    • Health Services
    • Clinical services
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BAS/BS in Hospitality Leadership
    Degree Concentrations
    • Club management
    • Food and beverage
    • General operations
    • Lodging
    • Senior living management
    • Tourism
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BA in Communication Studies
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BA in Religious Studies
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS/BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Nursing
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Business Analysis
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Information Technology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Application Development
    • IT Infrastructure or Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Professional Writing
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Finance
    Degree Concentrations
    • Corporate and Investments
    • Financial Planning
    • Required Credits: 120-121
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Sociology
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in General Business
    Degree Concentrations
    • Business Relationships
    • Financial and Quantitative Analysis
    • International Business Environment
    • Markets and Economies
    • Project and Technology Management
    • Risk Management and Compliance
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online

Career Outlook for Students with Economics Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Economics

Degree Level: Bachelor's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,136
  • Avg. Expenses*: $18,134
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $48,072
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $63,272
  • Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 10 years
  • Job Growth: 2.90%
  • Number of Jobs: 2,434,100
  • * denotes ‘annually’
  • ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other5.75%$133,560
Economists5.14%$115,730
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary3.23%$115,300
Data Scientists36.03%$108,020
Statisticians11.73%$104,110

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Managers, All Other$133,560
Economists$115,730
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$115,300

The Best Economics Schools in Your State

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