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2023 Best Economics Schools

551 Colleges
$48,722 Avg Salary
$21,489 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Economics School for You

In <nil>, 47,809 economics students received their degrees and certificates, making the major the #6 most popular in the country.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for business students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Business Degree Central has created its Best Economics Schools ranking. This report analyzed 551 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for business students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Economics Schools in the United States

The colleges and universities below are the best for economics majors pursuing a .

Top 25 Top Schools in Economics

#1

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA

Our 2023 rankings named Claremont McKenna College the best school in the United States for economics students. Claremont McKenna is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont.

On average, economics graduates from Claremont McKenna take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Economics at Claremont McKenna College

#2

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Williams College is a great place for economics students. Williams is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Williams take out is $12,925.

Full Economics at Williams College Report

#3

Duke University

Durham, NC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Economics Schools list. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Economics majors at Duke take out an average of $13,187 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#4

Rice University

Houston, TX

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Economics Schools list. Located in the city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Rice take out is $11,644.

Read full report on Economics at Rice University

#5

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Dartmouth College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Economics majors at Dartmouth take out an average of $18,132 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $685.

Read full report on Economics at Dartmouth College

#6

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

With a ranking of #6, Princeton University did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Princeton.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Princeton accumulate an average of around $11,250 in student debt.

Full Economics at Princeton University Report

Teachers College at Columbia University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.

Full Economics at Teachers College at Columbia University Report

#8

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

University of Chicago landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

On average, economics graduates from UChicago take out $13,395 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Economics at University of Chicago

#9

Yale University

New Haven, CT

With a ranking of #9, Yale University did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Yale accumulate an average of around $12,562 in student debt.

Read full report on Economics at Yale University

#10

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Notre Dame accumulate an average of around $19,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $666.

Full Economics at University of Notre Dame Report

#11

Pomona College

Claremont, CA

Pomona College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Located in the large suburb of Claremont, Pomona is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Economics at Pomona College

#12

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Baltimore.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Johns Hopkins take out is $23,848.

Read More…

#13

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

With a ranking of #13, Vanderbilt University did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Vanderbilt carry an average student debtload of $12,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $622.

Full Economics at Vanderbilt University Report

#14

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Northwestern accumulate an average of around $15,250 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $546.

Full Economics at Northwestern University Report

With a ranking of #15, Colorado School of Mines did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Located in the suburb of Golden, Mines is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Economics at Colorado School of Mines

#16

Amherst College

Amherst, MA

Amherst College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Amherst is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Amherst.

On average, economics graduates from Amherst take out $16,662 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Economics at Amherst College

#17

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, NY

With a ranking of #17, The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Economics at The Graduate Center, CUNY Report

#18

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Harvard University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Harvard carry an average student debtload of $6,617.

Read full report on Economics at Harvard University

#19

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Pittsburgh.

Economics majors at Carnegie Mellon take out an average of $22,020 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#20

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Located in the fringe town of Brunswick, Bowdoin is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, economics graduates from Bowdoin take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Economics at Bowdoin College Report

#21

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

On average, economics graduates from Cornell take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $654.

Read full report on Economics at Cornell University

#22

Colgate University

Hamilton, NY

Colgate University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Located in the distant town of Hamilton, Colgate is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Colgate accumulate an average of around $17,500 in student debt.

Full Economics at Colgate University Report

#23

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at UPenn accumulate an average of around $14,621 in student debt.

Read full report on Economics at University of Pennsylvania

#24

Brown University

Providence, RI

Brown University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for economics students. It came in at #24 on the list. Brown is a large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Providence.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Brown accumulate an average of around $13,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Economics at Brown University

University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for economics students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Economics majors at UC Berkeley take out an average of $12,650 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $343, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Economics at University of California - Berkeley Report

Rest of the Top 50 Best Economics Schools

#26

Stanford University

Stanford, CA
#27

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA
#28

Lafayette College

Easton, PA
#29

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA
#30

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA
#31

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC
#32

DePauw University

Greencastle, IN
#33

Barnard College

New York, NY
#34

Bates College

Lewiston, ME
#36

Haverford College

Haverford, PA
#38

Carleton College

Northfield, MN
#39

Denison University

Granville, OH
#40

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA
#42

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA
#43

Grinnell College

Grinnell, IA
#44

Augustana University

Sioux Falls, SD
#45

Villanova University

Villanova, PA
#46

Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA
#47

Tufts University

Medford, MA
#48

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY
#50

Lycoming College

Williamsport, PA

Remaining Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Economics Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 551 different United States economics schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Middlebury College Middlebury, VT
52 Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA
53 Georgetown University Washington, DC
54 Hamilton College Clinton, NY
55 University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
56 St Olaf College Northfield, MN
57 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
58 Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL
59 Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA
60 University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
61 Wheaton College Illinois Wheaton, IL
62 University of Rochester Rochester, NY
63 Emory University Atlanta, GA
64 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY
65 Trinity College Hartford, CT
66 Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY
67 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI
68 University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA
69 Sewanee - The University of the South Sewanee, TN
70 Colby College Waterville, ME
71 Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN
72 College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN
73 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
74 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
75 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA
76 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
77 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH
78 Saint Johns University Collegeville, MN
79 Fort Hays State University Hays, KS
79 Oberlin College Oberlin, OH
81 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
82 Mount St Mary’s University Emmitsburg, MD

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Economics Schools award.

Rank College Location
83 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
84 Furman University Greenville, SC
85 Webster University Saint Louis, MO
86 Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL
87 Elon University Elon, NC
88 Kenyon College Gambier, OH
89 New York University New York, NY
90 Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GA
91 The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
92 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
93 Saint Vincent College Latrobe, PA
94 University of Delaware Newark, DE
95 Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CA
96 University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
97 Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
98 Minnesota State University - Moorhead Moorhead, MN
99 University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD
100 Roanoke College Salem, VA
101 Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN
102 Union College New York Schenectady, NY
103 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA
104 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
105 Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO
106 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
107 Trinity University San Antonio, TX
108 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
109 University of California - Davis Davis, CA
110 Randolph - Macon College Ashland, VA

Economics by Region

View the Best Economics Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

Economics Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Economics 25,066
Econometrics & Quantitative Economics 21,078
Applied Economics 550
Development Economics & International Development 535
International Economics 305
Other Economics 275

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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