2026 Best Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Economics certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 937 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Business Degree Central reviewed schools to build 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire to be the best-value Economics school in the United States. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public school based in Eau Claire, WI. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $58,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Temple University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Economics ranking in the United States. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Temple University Economics students take on a median of $24,250 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University has an acceptance rate of 80%. Read more about Temple University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Amherst, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical Economics student debt is $26,000. Median earnings reach $71,631 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Connecticut State University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Get the full Central Connecticut State University report
Coe College
Coe College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Economics ranking in the United States. Get the full Coe College report
Haverford College placed #6 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Haverford College
Merrimack College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Merrimack College
Susquehanna University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Susquehanna University
Truman State University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Truman State University
Los Angeles City College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Los Angeles City College report
Mckendree University placed #11 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Mckendree University
Monterey Peninsula College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Monterey Peninsula College
Old Dominion University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. More on Old Dominion University
Rockhurst University placed #14 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Rockhurst University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Southern Illinois University Carbondale profile
Strayer University South Carolina offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Strayer University South Carolina
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #18 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Dearborn
University Of Michigan Flint ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on University Of Michigan Flint
Woodland Community College landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Woodland Community College
Andrews University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Get the full Andrews University report
Monmouth College
Monmouth College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Monmouth College
Roger Williams University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Roger Williams University
Saint Marys College placed #24 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Saint Marys College
Scripps College
Scripps College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Get the full Scripps College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of San Diego came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of San Diego report
Foothill College
Foothill College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Foothill College
Marquette University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Marquette University
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #29 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Get the full New Mexico State University Main Campus report
Randolph College
Randolph College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Randolph College
Regent University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Regent University profile
University Of California Santa Barbara offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full University Of California Santa Barbara profile
University Of Denver came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Denver
Strayer University Tennessee offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read the full report on Strayer University Tennessee
University Of Idaho offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on University Of Idaho
California State University East Bay ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full California State University East Bay profile
Cuny Lehman College landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cuny Lehman College report
Hillsdale College offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Hillsdale College profile
Ithaca College
Ithaca College placed #39 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. See the full Ithaca College profile
Princeton University placed #40 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Princeton University
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Missouri Western State University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full Missouri Western State University profile
Northeastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on Northeastern University
Prince Georges Community College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Prince Georges Community College
Strayer University Texas ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full Strayer University Texas profile
Cerritos College
Cerritos College landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Cerritos College
Colgate University offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on Colgate University
Cuny City College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cuny City College
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Meredith College
Meredith College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Get the full Meredith College report
Related Economics Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Associate’s 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. Rankings consider 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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