2026 Best Value Economics Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Economics associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 937 colleges 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Santa Rosa, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $47,224. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt. Read more about Santa Rosa Junior College
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, East Los Angeles College landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Monterey Park, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Typical Economics student debt is $8,180. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,006 ten years after entry. Set against $8,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about East Los Angeles College
You'll get strong value at Antelope Valley College, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Lancaster, CA, Antelope Valley College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,124, while out-of-state students pay about $9,548. Graduates carry a median of $10,729 in student loans. Antelope Valley College alumni report median earnings of $36,526 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,729 median debt. Read more about Antelope Valley College
You'll get strong value at Butte College, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Oroville, CA, Butte College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,356, with out-of-state students paying around $9,276. The median Economics program debt is $13,302. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,810. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Butte College report
A rank of #5 makes American River College one of the best values 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. The median Economics program debt is $14,105. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,162 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $14,105 median debt. See the full American River College profile
Mt San Jacinto Community College District placed #6 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. This public school is set in San Jacinto, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,448, compared with $12,728 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,770 to complete their Economics program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,319 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. More on Mt San Jacinto Community College District
Juniata College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Juniata College
Rio Hondo College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rio Hondo College report
Shepherd University placed #9 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Shepherd University
Creighton University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Creighton University report
Grand Canyon University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. More on Grand Canyon University
Barton County Community College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Barton County Community College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az report
Hampshire College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Hampshire College
North Central College placed #15 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. More on North Central College
Providence College came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Providence College
Southern Connecticut State University offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Southern Connecticut State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. More on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Contra Costa College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Contra Costa College
Grand Valley State University placed #20 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. See the full Grand Valley State University profile
Irvine Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Irvine Valley College
Pepperdine University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Pepperdine University
University Of Alaska Anchorage came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Alaska Anchorage profile
University Of Rochester came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Rochester profile
Georgia State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about Georgia State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Economics Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Jacksonville University came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full Jacksonville University profile
Mount St Marys University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Mount St Marys University
Owens Community College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Owens Community College
Pennsylvania Western University placed #29 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pennsylvania Western University
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #30 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sewanee The University Of The South
California State University Channel Islands ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on California State University Channel Islands
Claremont Graduate University came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. More on Claremont Graduate University
College Of San Mateo offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full College Of San Mateo report
College Of William And Mary came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full College Of William And Mary profile
Framingham State University came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Framingham State University profile
Knox College
Knox College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Knox College
Loyola Marymount University offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Loyola Marymount University report
Stony Brook University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Stony Brook University
Bellarmine University offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. More on Bellarmine University
Belmont University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Get the full Belmont University report
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #41 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
Illinois College
Illinois College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Illinois College
San Diego Mesa College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on San Diego Mesa College
American International College landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. More on American International College
University Of Rio Grande ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about University Of Rio Grande
Arapahoe Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Arapahoe Community College
Chandler Gilbert Community College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Chapman University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. See the full Chapman University profile
Converse College
Converse College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Converse College
Florida State University placed #50 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida State University
Related Economics Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Undergraduate Certificate 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
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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