2026 Best Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Economics certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 937 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect 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 evaluated 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire to be the best-value Economics school in the United States. Located in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, compared with $19,228 for out-of-state students. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire Economics students take on a median of $21,500 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,561 ten years after entry. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire has an acceptance rate of 82%. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
A rank of #2 makes Temple University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Temple University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,727. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%. See the full Temple University profile
Out of the 937 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #3 spot. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. University Of Massachusetts Amherst Economics students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $71,631. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst has an acceptance rate of 60%. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bethany College Kansas earned it the #4 place in the United States. See the full Bethany College Kansas profile
Iowa State University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Economics ranking in the United States. Read more about Iowa State University
Loyola Marymount University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. More on Loyola Marymount University
Manchester College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Manchester College
Wake Forest University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Read more about Wake Forest University
College Of Marin ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on College Of Marin
Furman University came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full Furman University profile
University Of West Alabama landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of West Alabama
Grossmont College placed #12 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. More on Grossmont College
Muhlenberg College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Muhlenberg College report
Ripon College
Ripon College offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. More on Ripon College
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Southern Indiana profile
Chapman University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. See the full Chapman University profile
Modesto Junior College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Modesto Junior College
Saint Anselm College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Saint Anselm College
Southern Methodist University landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Southern Methodist University
University Of Louisville ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full University Of Louisville profile
Villanova University placed #21 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Villanova University
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Gustavus Adolphus College
Merritt College
Merritt College placed #23 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. See the full Merritt College profile
Montana State University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Montana State University
Nichols College
Nichols College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full Nichols College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Economics Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of California Riverside landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of California Riverside profile
Wartburg College
Wartburg College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Wartburg College profile
Northern Kentucky University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northern Kentucky University report
Pittsburg State University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Pittsburg State University report
Rutgers University Newark came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Rutgers University Newark
University Of San Diego came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of San Diego
California State University Dominguez Hills offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full California State University Dominguez Hills profile
Franklin College
Franklin College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Franklin College
Tyler Junior College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Tyler Junior College
University Of Idaho landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Idaho
Fairfield University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Fairfield University report
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. See the full Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus profile
University Of California Santa Cruz offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. Get the full University Of California Santa Cruz report
Diablo Valley College placed #39 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read more about Diablo Valley College
Oxnard College
Oxnard College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Oxnard College
Terra State Community College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Terra State Community College profile
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #42 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Minnesota Duluth
University Of New Haven ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read more about University Of New Haven
Austin Community College District placed #44 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. Get the full Austin Community College District report
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Illinois Institute Of Technology
Ohio University Southern Campus placed #46 among the best-value Economics schools in the United States. See the full Ohio University Southern Campus profile
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Vanderbilt University came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Vanderbilt University report
Canada College
Canada College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. More on Canada College
Drexel University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Economics schools. More on Drexel University
Related Economics Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Economics Associate’s 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
The ranking above is published 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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