2023 Best Value Economics Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Economics School for You
In 2020-2021, 6,173 people earned a degree or certificate in economics, making the major the #42 most popular in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Value Economics Schools ranking is one of many tools that Grad Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 203 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.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Economics Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Best Value Economics Colleges.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Economics
Our analysis found Webster University to be the best value school for economics students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Webster are $28,700 per year.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Youngstown State University is a great value for economics students. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year.
Out of the 203 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Illinois State are $24,172 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Illinois State is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
The excellent programs at The Graduate Center, CUNY helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best economics schools in the United States. Located in the large city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
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.
Out of the 203 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the # 5 spot on the list. North Dakota State University is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at North Dakota State University are $14,876 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, North Dakota State University is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
Valparaiso University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Valpo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Valparaiso.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Valpo are $44,796 a year.
Western Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Economics at Western Illinois University
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at NIU are $14,738 a year.
University of Delaware ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools list. Located in the suburb of Newark, UD is a public school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UD are $36,880 a year.
UD also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public college with a very large student population.
Missouri State undergraduate students pay an average of $16,498 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Economics at Missouri State University - Springfield Report
University of North Dakota landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the city of Grand Forks, UND is a public college with a large student population.
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 20% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #12, Teachers College at Columbia University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
Teachers College also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at St. Cloud State University are $18,010 per year.
Cornell University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cornell are $61,015 a year.
Cornell excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population.
UC Berkeley undergraduate students pay an average of $43,980 in tuition and fees each year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UC Berkeley also did well on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Marquette University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #16 on the list. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Milwaukee.
Marquette undergraduate students pay an average of $45,766 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Marquette is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
With a ranking of #17, California State University - East Bay did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cal State East Bay are $18,875 a year.
South Dakota State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the remote town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Dakota State are $12,809 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, South Dakota State also is in the top 10% of our Best Economics Schools ranking.
With a ranking of #19, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo undergraduate students pay an average of $28,105 in tuition and fees each year.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Economics at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - Madison are $38,608 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UW - Madison also did well on our Best Economics Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #21 on the list. UNL is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lincoln.
UNL undergraduate students pay an average of $26,720 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UNL is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
Colorado School of Mines landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the large suburb of Golden, Mines is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Mines undergraduate students pay an average of $40,838 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Mines is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value economics programs. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public college with a very large student population.
UT Austin undergraduate students pay an average of $40,996 in tuition and fees each year.
UT Austin excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Schools list.
Emporia State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for economics students. It came in at #22 on the list. Located in the town of Emporia, ESU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ESU are $14,918 a year.
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Omaha, UNOMAHA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UNOMAHA are $21,718 per year.
Rest of the Top Best Value Economics Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Economics graduate students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Economics Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA |
| 32 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX |
| 33 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 34 | Rice University | Houston, TX |
| 35 | Yale University | New Haven, CT |
| 35 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 37 | University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
| 37 | Ball State University | Muncie, IN |
| 39 | University of Nevada - Reno | Reno, NV |
| 39 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus | Las Cruces, NM |
| 39 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC |
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
Economics Related Majors for Economics
Economics is one of 12 different types of programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Economics
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| International Relations & National Security | 5,010 |
| Political Science & Government | 2,664 |
| Geography & Cartography | 2,315 |
| Sociology | 1,907 |
| Anthropology | 1,446 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 26 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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