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2023 Best Economics Schools

551 Colleges
$48,736 Avg Salary
$22,046 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Economics School for You

Economics is the #19 most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. 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.

The Best Economics Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 551 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for 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 analysis found Claremont McKenna College to be the best school for economics students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont McKenna is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Claremont McKenna carry an average student debtload of $12,500.

Read full report on Economics at Claremont McKenna College

#2

Williams College

Williamstown, MA

The excellent programs at Williams College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best economics schools in the United States. Located in the fringe town of Williamstown, Williams is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Williams accumulate an average of around $14,000 in student debt.

Full Economics at Williams College Report

#3

Duke University

Durham, NC

Out of the 551 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Duke is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Durham.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Duke carry an average student debtload of $12,000.

Full Economics at Duke University Report

#4

Rice University

Houston, TX

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Rice is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston.

On average, economics graduates from Rice take out $13,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

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. Dartmouth is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Hanover.

Economics majors at Dartmouth take out an average of $15,500 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $548, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Economics at Dartmouth College Report

#6

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ

Princeton University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

Full Economics at Princeton University Report

Teachers College at Columbia University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Read More…

#8

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

With a ranking of #8, University of Chicago did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Located in the large city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from UChicago carry an average student debtload of $16,256. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $708.

Full Economics at University of Chicago Report

#9

Yale University

New Haven, CT

Yale University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of New Haven.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Yale accumulate an average of around $16,471 in student debt.

Read More…

#10

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN

University of Notre Dame did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for economics students. It came in at #10 on the list. Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Notre Dame accumulate an average of around $19,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $593, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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. Pomona is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont.

Read full report on Economics at Pomona College

#12

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Located in the large city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, economics graduates from Johns Hopkins take out $16,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Economics at Johns Hopkins University

#13

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.

Economics majors at Vanderbilt take out an average of $13,000 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $603, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Economics at Vanderbilt University

#14

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

Northwestern University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for economics students. It came in at #14 on the list. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Northwestern take out is $15,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $456.

Read full report on Economics at Northwestern University

Colorado School of Mines came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden.

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. Located in the suburb of Amherst, Amherst is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

On average, economics graduates from Amherst take out $16,747 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Economics at Amherst College Report

#17

The Graduate Center, CUNY

New York, NY

The Graduate Center, CUNY ranked #17 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school located in the city of New York.

Read full report on Economics at The Graduate Center, CUNY

#18

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

With a ranking of #18, Harvard University did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. Harvard is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge.

On average, economics graduates from Harvard take out $7,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Economics at Harvard University Report

#19

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

While working on their degree, economics majors at Carnegie Mellon accumulate an average of around $23,250 in student debt.

Read More…

#20

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME

Bowdoin College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best economics programs. Bowdoin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Brunswick.

Economics majors at Bowdoin take out an average of $17,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Economics at Bowdoin College

#21

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Economics Schools ranking. Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Ithaca.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at Cornell take out is $15,402. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $429, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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. Colgate is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hamilton.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Colgate carry an average student debtload of $16,763.

Full Economics at Colgate University Report

#23

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

With a ranking of #23, University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for economics students. UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia.

The average amount in student loans that economics majors at UPenn take out is $15,684.

Read full report on Economics at University of Pennsylvania

#24

Brown University

Providence, RI

Brown University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, economics graduates from Brown carry an average student debtload of $17,250.

Full Economics at Brown University Report

University of California - Berkeley ranked #25 on this year’s Best Economics Schools list. UC Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley.

While working on their degree, economics majors at UC Berkeley accumulate an average of around $11,000 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 $378.

Read More…

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

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Best Economics Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college 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

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Economics students that almost earned our 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
Great Lakes

One of 12 majors within the area of study, economics has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 49,282
Sociology 38,475
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415

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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