2023 Best Value Economics Master's Degree Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Economics Master's Degree 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.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Grad Degree Search has developed this Best Value Economics Master's Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 194 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value master's degree 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for economics majors pursuing a master's degree.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Master's in Economics
Our analysis found Youngstown State University to be the best value school for economics students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Youngstown State University are $6,931 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.
Illinois State graduate students pay an average of $11,773 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 20% of our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
The excellent master’s degree programs at The Graduate Center, CUNY helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value economics schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, The Graduate Center is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at The Graduate Center are $23,640 a year.
The Graduate Center excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Fargo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at North Dakota State University are $12,028 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, North Dakota State University is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
Full Economics at North Dakota State University - Main Campus Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Valparaiso University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Valpo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Valparaiso.
Valpo graduate students pay an average of $12,220 in tuition and fees each year.
Western Illinois University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree economics programs. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at WIU are $12,182 a year.
University of Delaware came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Newark, UD is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UD are $18,128 a year.
UD excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for economics students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb.
NIU graduate students pay an average of $11,390 in tuition and fees each year.
University of North Dakota landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree economics programs. Located in the small city of Grand Forks, UND is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UND are $18,968 per year.
UND excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
Teachers College at Columbia University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value master’s degree economics programs. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.
Teachers College graduate students pay an average of $35,054 in tuition and fees each year.
Teachers College also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Full Economics at Teachers College at Columbia University Report
Saint Cloud State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public college with a fairly large student population.
St. Cloud State University graduate students pay an average of $13,412 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Economics at Saint Cloud State University
With a ranking of #12, Cornell University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Cornell are $30,006 a year.
Cornell excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
Marquette University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Marquette is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Marquette are $21,960 a year.
Marquette excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
With a ranking of #14, California State University - East Bay did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students working on their master’s degree. Cal State East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Cal State East Bay are $17,933 a year.
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for economics students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at UC Berkeley are $29,262 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UC Berkeley also is in the top 5% of our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
South Dakota State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at South Dakota State are $16,917 per year.
South Dakota State also claimed a spot on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
With a ranking of #17, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students working on their master’s degree. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate students pay an average of $21,133 in tuition and fees each year.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public college with a very large student population.
UW - Madison graduate students pay an average of $25,501 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - Madison is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. UNL is a fairly large public school located in the city of Lincoln.
UNL graduate students pay an average of $19,541 in tuition and fees each year.
UNL excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
With a ranking of #20, Colorado School of Mines did quite well on this year’s best value schools for economics students working on their master’s degree. Located in the suburb of Golden, Mines is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Mines are $40,844 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Mines also is in the top 10% of our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking.
The University of Texas at Austin did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for economics students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public school with a fairly large student population.
UT Austin graduate students pay an average of $22,944 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 Master’s Degree Schools list.
Read full report on Economics at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Houston came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. UH is a very large public school located in the large city of Houston.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UH are $18,871 per year.
Central Michigan University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Central Michigan are $15,644 per year.
Read full report on Economics at Central Michigan University
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Omaha, UNOMAHA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at UNOMAHA are $16,374 per year.
Read full report on Economics at University of Nebraska at Omaha
San Jose State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Economics Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
San Jose State graduate students pay an average of $18,790 in tuition and fees each year.
San Jose State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools list.
Rest of the Top Best Value Economics Master's Degree Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
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 Master's Degree Schools award.
Rank | College | Location |
---|---|---|
30 | Rice University | Houston, TX |
31 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
32 | University of California - Irvine | Irvine, CA |
33 | Yale University | New Haven, CT |
33 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
33 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
36 | University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
37 | University of Nevada - Reno | Reno, NV |
38 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
Economics by Region
View the Best Value Economics Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Region |
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Southeast |
New England |
Rocky Mountains |
Plains States |
Middle Atlantic |
Far Western US |
Southwest |
Great Lakes |
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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 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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