2026 Best Economics Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Economics associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 937 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Business Degree Central evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Economics Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than Santa Rosa Junior College this year in the United States. Set in Santa Rosa, CA, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete their Economics program here. See the full Santa Rosa Junior College profile
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, East Los Angeles College landed the #2 spot. Set in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. East Los Angeles College Economics students take on a median of $8,180 in debt. Read more about East Los Angeles College
The strong Economics programs at American River College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Read the full report on American River College
You'll be in good company at Mt San Jacinto Community College District, which ranked #4 this year. Based in San Jacinto, CA, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,728. Mt San Jacinto Community College District Economics students take on a median of $8,770 in debt. Read the full report on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
You'll be in good company at Butte College, which ranked #5 this year. Butte College is a public school based in Oroville, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Students borrow a median of $13,302 to complete their Economics program here. More on Butte College
Antelope Valley College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Antelope Valley College is a public school based in Lancaster, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,548. Typical Economics student debt is $10,729. Read more about Antelope Valley College
Benedict College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. See the full Benedict College profile
Cuny Lehman College did well this year, earning the #8 position. More on Cuny Lehman College
Lawrence University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full Lawrence University report
University Of California San Diego ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about University Of California San Diego
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Read more about Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Get the full Florida International University report
Union University
Union University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Get the full Union University report
University Of Delaware came in at #14 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Delaware profile
Casper College
Casper College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. See the full Casper College profile
Rio Hondo College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. More on Rio Hondo College
Suny College At Plattsburgh did well this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about Suny College At Plattsburgh
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read the full report on University Of Colorado Boulder
Western Washington University placed #19 among Economics schools in the United States. More on Western Washington University
Austin College
Austin College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Austin College
California State University East Bay landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full California State University East Bay profile
Gustavus Adolphus College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Gustavus Adolphus College
Kent State University At Kent did well this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
Manhattan College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on Manhattan College
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Moorhead
Rest of the Top 50 Best Economics Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Southern Oregon University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southern Oregon University
Syracuse University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Syracuse University
College Of San Mateo did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full College Of San Mateo profile
Dominican University placed #29 among Economics schools in the United States. More on Dominican University
University Of California Davis landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Davis
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown report
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez report
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
The University Of Texas Pan American did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on The University Of Texas Pan American
Valparaiso University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Valparaiso University
Whitworth University did well this year, earning the #36 position. More on Whitworth University
Andrews University did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Andrews University profile
Gallaudet University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. Read more about Gallaudet University
Los Angeles City College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Los Angeles City College
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Oklahoma State University Main Campus
South Mountain Community College did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about South Mountain Community College
Beloit College
Beloit College did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Beloit College profile
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about Carnegie Mellon University
Strayer University New Jersey did well this year, earning the #44 position. Get the full Strayer University New Jersey report
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #45 in this year's ranking. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
Imperial Valley College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Imperial Valley College profile
New York University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about New York University
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
St Philips College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on St Philips College
Strayer University West Virginia placed #50 among Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Strayer University West Virginia
Related Economics Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Economics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Economics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Economics Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 937 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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