2023 Best Value Economics Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
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 Value Economics Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 551 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for economics students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Economics
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Provo the best value school in the United States for economics students. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo.
BYU undergraduate students pay an average of $6,120 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that economics majors at BYU take out is $14,500.
In addition to its great value ranking, BYU is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. BYU - I is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU - I are $4,416 per year.
Full Economics at Brigham Young University - Idaho Report
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Out of the 551 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Rosa Junior College landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, SRJC is a public school with a fairly large student population.
SRJC undergraduate students pay an average of $8,952 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, SRJC also did well on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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The excellent programs at Park University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best economics schools in the United States. Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Park University are $8,853 a year.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Metropolitan State University is a great value for economics students. Metro State is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Metro State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,394 in tuition and fees each year.
Metro State also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. ASU - Skysong is a fairly large public school located in the city of Scottsdale.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ASU - Skysong are $13,092 a year. Economics majors at ASU - Skysong take out an average of $23,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $324, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
In addition to its great value ranking, ASU - Skysong is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
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With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. UW - River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - River Falls are $15,661 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
Full Economics at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
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Youngstown State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #8 on the list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school located in the city of Youngstown.
Youngstown State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,732 in tuition and fees each year.
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Fort Hays State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. FHSU is a large public school located in the town of Hays.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at FHSU are $15,870 a year.
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The Graduate Center, CUNY came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. The Graduate Center is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of New York.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at The Graduate Center are $15,360 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, The Graduate Center also did well on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at SIUE are $11,496 a year.
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Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. SRU is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Slippery Rock.
SRU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,615 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SRU also is in the top 20% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
Full Economics at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Report
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With a ranking of #13, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. WIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the remote town of Macomb.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year.
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University of Minnesota - Morris ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. Located in the town of Morris, UMN Morris is a public school with a small student population.
UMN Morris undergraduate students pay an average of $15,940 in tuition and fees each year.
UMN Morris excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
Full Economics at University of Minnesota - Morris Report
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Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. MSU Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at MSU Moorhead are $17,564 per year.
MSU Moorhead also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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University of North Dakota landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. UND is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks.
UND undergraduate students pay an average of $15,037 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UND also is in the top 15% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public school with a large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at North Dakota State University are $14,876 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, North Dakota State University also did well on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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With a ranking of #18, Winona State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Winona State is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Winona.
Winona State undergraduate students pay an average of $16,684 in tuition and fees each year.
Winona State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
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East Los Angeles College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public college with a very large student population.
East Los Angeles College undergraduate students pay an average of $9,012 in tuition and fees each year.
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With a ranking of #20, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Located in the city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW Oshkosh are $15,306 a year. After completing their degree, economics graduates from UW Oshkosh carry an average student debtload of $23,375.
UW Oshkosh also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
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With a ranking of #21, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Akron.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 per year.
Full Economics at University of Akron Main Campus Report
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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of Whitewater, UW - Whitewater is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Whitewater are $16,602 per year. The average amount in student loans that economics majors at UW - Whitewater take out is $22,262.
UW - Whitewater excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
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South Dakota State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the remote town of Brookings.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at South Dakota State are $12,809 per year. The average amount in student loans that economics majors at South Dakota State take out is $26,000.
In addition to its great value ranking, South Dakota State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
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University of Northern Iowa ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNI are $19,753 per year. The average amount in student loans that economics majors at UNI take out is $22,063.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNI also is in the top 10% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
Full Economics at University of Northern Iowa Report
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With a ranking of #25, Teachers College at Columbia University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Located in the city of New York, Teachers College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Teachers College excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
Read full report on Economics at Teachers College at Columbia University
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Additional Award Winners
This section shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Value 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.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Economics Schools award.
Economics by Region
View the Best Value Economics Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Economics Rankings
Majors Related to Economics
One of 12 majors within the area of study, economics has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Majors Related to Economics
| 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.
- 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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