2026 Best Value Economics Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Economics associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 937 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Business Degree Central evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Economics Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Set in Santa Rosa, CA, Santa Rosa Junior College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete their Economics program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,224. Set against $14,692 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Santa Rosa Junior College report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Los Angeles College earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,238, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Typical Economics student debt is $8,180. Median earnings reach $42,006 ten years out. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about East Los Angeles College
You'll get strong value at Antelope Valley College, which ranked #3 this year. Antelope Valley College is a public school based in Lancaster, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,548 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,729 in student loans. Antelope Valley College alumni report median earnings of $36,526 a decade after entry. Set against $10,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Antelope Valley College
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Butte College landed the #4 spot. Set in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,356, while out-of-state students pay about $9,276. Typical Economics student debt is $13,302. Median earnings reach $41,810 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Butte College
American River College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Economics ranking in the United States. Located 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. Typical Economics student debt is $14,105. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,162. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. More on American River College
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #6 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Based in San Jacinto, CA, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,728. Graduates carry a median of $8,770 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,319 ten years after entry. Set against $8,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Alpena Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Read more about Alpena Community College
Rockhurst University placed #8 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. More on Rockhurst University
West Virginia University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on West Virginia University
Western Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on Western Michigan University
Desales University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Desales University
Hartnell College
Hartnell College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Hartnell College
Lansing Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on Lansing Community College
Pacific University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pacific University
Ripon College
Ripon College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Ripon College
Strayer University Global Region ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Strayer University Global Region
De Anza College
De Anza College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about De Anza College
George Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full George Washington University report
Amherst College
Amherst College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Amherst College report
Furman University placed #20 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Furman University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Nebraska Wesleyan University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. More on Nebraska Wesleyan University
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
The University Of West Florida placed #24 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of West Florida
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Economics Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Get the full Brigham Young University Provo report
Hofstra University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full Hofstra University profile
Idaho State University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Idaho State University
Montana State University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. More on Montana State University
Simmons College
Simmons College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Simmons College
South Mountain Community College placed #31 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on South Mountain Community College
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about University Of Alaska Anchorage
University Of Illinois At Springfield ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about University Of Illinois At Springfield
Eastern Washington University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Eastern Washington University
Laney College
Laney College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Laney College
Middlebury College placed #36 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. See the full Middlebury College profile
Pitzer College
Pitzer College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Pitzer College report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Cuny City College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. More on Cuny City College
Evergreen Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Evergreen Valley College
Hanover College
Hanover College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Hanover College
Lycoming College
Lycoming College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Lycoming College
Northeastern Illinois University placed #43 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Get the full Northeastern Illinois University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Weber State University placed #45 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Weber State University
Southern Methodist University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Southern Methodist University
University Of The District Of Columbia landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of The District Of Columbia profile
Vassar College
Vassar College landed the #48 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Vassar College
Hood College
Hood College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Hood College report
Mt Hood Community College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Mt Hood Community College
Related Economics Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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