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. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor 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
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Santa Rosa, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. The median Economics program debt is $14,692. More on Santa Rosa Junior College
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, East Los Angeles College landed the #2 spot. Based in Monterey Park, CA, East Los Angeles College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete their Economics program here. Read the full report on East Los Angeles College
American River College came in at #3 on this year's Economics ranking in the United States. Set in Sacramento, CA, American River College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Students borrow a median of $14,105 to complete their Economics program here. Read more about American River College
A rank of #4 makes Mt San Jacinto Community College District one of the top choices in the United States. Set in San Jacinto, CA, Mt San Jacinto Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,448, with out-of-state students paying around $12,728. Graduates carry a median of $8,770 in student loans. Read more about Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Butte College came in at #5 on this year's Economics ranking in the United States. Set in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, compared with $9,276 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,302 in student loans. See the full Butte College profile
Antelope Valley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Set in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,124, with out-of-state students paying around $9,548. The median Economics program debt is $10,729. See the full Antelope Valley College profile
Miracosta College placed #7 among Economics schools in the United States. See the full Miracosta College profile
Modesto Junior College landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Modesto Junior College
Suny College At Oswego landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. See the full Suny College At Oswego profile
Villanova University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. More on Villanova University
Frostburg State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Frostburg State University profile
University Of California Irvine ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. More on University Of California Irvine
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #13 in this year's ranking. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Depauw University placed #15 among Economics schools in the United States. See the full Depauw University profile
Rhode Island College placed #16 among Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rhode Island College
Samford University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Samford University
St Johns University New York did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on St Johns University New York
University Of South Carolina Columbia did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full University Of South Carolina Columbia report
Saint Anselm College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Saint Anselm College
Trinity College
Trinity College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Trinity College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Western Connecticut State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about Western Connecticut State University
Belmont Abbey College placed #24 among Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Belmont Abbey College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Rhodes College
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:
College Of The Desert ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about College Of The Desert
Sacred Heart University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Sacred Heart University profile
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #28 among Economics schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Nebraska At Omaha report
California State University Fresno landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on California State University Fresno
Folsom Lake College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Folsom Lake College
Strayer University Texas landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Strayer University Texas
Texas Christian University placed #33 among Economics schools in the United States. Get the full Texas Christian University report
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about University Of South Florida Main Campus
Crafton Hills College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. More on Crafton Hills College
Cuny York College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Cuny York College profile
Milligan College
Milligan College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Milligan College profile
Saint Johns University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Saint Johns University
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #39 among Economics schools in the United States. Get the full State University Of New York At New Paltz report
Colorado Christian University did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on Colorado Christian University
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham profile
Hampshire College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Hampshire College profile
North Park University did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full North Park University profile
Radford University came in at #44 in this year's ranking. More on Radford University
Suny At Binghamton landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Suny At Binghamton
University Of Arkansas landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee report
Scottsdale Community College landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. More on Scottsdale Community College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Allegheny College placed #50 among Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Allegheny College
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 Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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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