2026 Best Economics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Economics graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 937 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best Economics graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Located in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete their Economics program here. More on University Of Chicago
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Colorado School Of Mines landed the #2 spot. Set in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Colorado School Of Mines Economics students take on a median of $24,521 in debt. More on Colorado School Of Mines
Johns Hopkins University came in at #3 on this year's Economics ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. About 94% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Johns Hopkins University Economics students take on a median of $12,494 in debt. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #4 spot. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
The strong Economics programs at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Purdue University Main Campus Economics students take on a median of $24,700 in debt. Read the full report on Purdue University Main Campus
Webster University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Webster University Economics students take on a median of $25,939 in debt. Read more about Webster University
University Of North Dakota did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Grand Forks, ND, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. More on University Of North Dakota
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among Economics schools in the United States. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. The median Economics program debt is $22,500. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Claremont Graduate University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Claremont, CA, Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Claremont Graduate University
Ball State University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Ball State University is a public school based in Muncie, IN. About 62% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Graduates carry a median of $22,054 in student loans. Read the full report on Ball State University
Valparaiso University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Valparaiso, IN. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,450. Graduates carry a median of $26,724 in student loans. Read more about Valparaiso University
American University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Washington, DC. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Typical Economics student debt is $22,625. Read more about American University
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #13 among Economics schools in the United States. This public school is set in Charlotte, NC. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete their Economics program here. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte report
Georgia Southern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Georgia Southern University is a public school based in Statesboro, GA. Georgia Southern University graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete their Economics program here. More on Georgia Southern University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #15 in this year's ranking. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school based in Amherst, MA. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical Economics student debt is $26,000. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Emporia State University landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. Emporia State University is a public school based in Emporia, KS. Emporia State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete their Economics program here. Read the full report on Emporia State University
Old Dominion University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete their Economics program here. See the full Old Dominion University profile
Fordham University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bronx, NY. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Read more about Fordham University
Western Kentucky University placed #19 among Economics schools in the United States. Located in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Get the full Western Kentucky University report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school based in Baton Rouge, LA. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. Typical Economics student debt is $21,348. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University Springfield posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical Economics student debt is $19,793. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
New Mexico State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Las Cruces, NM, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. New Mexico State University Main Campus Economics students take on a median of $19,026 in debt. Get the full New Mexico State University Main Campus report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #23 among Economics schools in the United States. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public school based in Greensboro, NC. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro Economics students take on a median of $24,977 in debt. More on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Suny At Albany came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Albany, NY, Suny At Albany is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,474 in student loans. Read more about Suny At Albany
Wayne State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. This public school is set in Detroit, MI. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,681 in student loans. Get the full Wayne State University report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Economics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of Toledo ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. This public school is set in Toledo, OH. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. The median Economics program debt is $24,923. More on University Of Toledo
The University Of Montana ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. This public school is set in Missoula, MT. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. The median Economics program debt is $24,342. See the full The University Of Montana profile
Portland State University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Located in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. The median Economics program debt is $24,949. Get the full Portland State University report
Hendrix College
Hendrix College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. See the full Hendrix College profile
Los Angeles Valley College placed #30 among Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Los Angeles Valley College
Metropolitan State College Of Denver did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Metropolitan State College Of Denver
Scripps College
Scripps College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on Scripps College
Strayer University Florida did well this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Strayer University Florida report
University Of Connecticut did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on University Of Connecticut
Indiana Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #35 position. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University
Manhattanville College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. See the full Manhattanville College profile
Oakland University placed #37 among Economics schools in the United States. Get the full Oakland University report
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Texas A And M University College Station placed #39 among Economics schools in the United States. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Los Angeles City College did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on Los Angeles City College
Moreno Valley College did well this year, earning the #41 position. More on Moreno Valley College
Sewanee The University Of The South did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Sewanee The University Of The South report
The University Of Texas At El Paso placed #43 among Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At El Paso
Bridgewater State University landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. See the full Bridgewater State University profile
Claremont Mckenna College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. More on Claremont Mckenna College
Grove City College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Grove City College
Hillsdale College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Hillsdale College
Jacksonville University placed #48 among Economics schools in the United States. More on Jacksonville University
Olivet Nazarene University did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Olivet Nazarene University
University Of Utah ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Economics schools. Get the full University Of Utah report
Related Economics Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Economics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Economics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Economics Bachelor’s 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. The methodology weighs 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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