Best Universities for Economics in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 128M citations received by 3.7M academic papers made by 1,438 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Economics

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Economics

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

6. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

7. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#1 in Canada

#7 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

8. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#7 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Economics

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. New York University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

11. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Economics

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

12. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#11 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

13. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Economics

#12 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#13 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

15. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#14 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Economics

#15 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#16 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#17 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Economics

#18 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

20. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#19 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

21. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#20 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

22. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Economics

#2 in Canada

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

23. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#22 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

25. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Economics

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

26. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#24 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

27. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Economics

#25 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

28. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#26 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

29. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#27 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

30. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Economics

#28 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#29 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

32. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Economics

#30 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

33. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#31 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#32 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

35. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#33 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

36. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Economics

#34 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

37. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#35 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

38. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Economics

#36 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

39. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#3 in Canada

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

40. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Economics

#37 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

41. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#38 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

42. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Economics

#4 in Canada

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

43. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#39 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

44. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#40 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

45. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#5 in Canada

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

46. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Economics

#41 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

47. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Economics

#42 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

48. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#43 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

49. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#44 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

50. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#45 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

51. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#46 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

52. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Economics

#47 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

53. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Economics

#48 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

54. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#49 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

55. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#6 in Canada

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

56. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#50 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#7 in Canada

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

58. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#8 in Canada

#95 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

59. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#51 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

60. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Economics

#52 in the United States

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

61. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#53 in the United States

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

62. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#9 in Canada

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

63. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#54 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

64. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Economics

#55 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

65. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Economics

#56 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

66. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#57 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

67. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Economics

#58 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

68. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Economics

#59 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

69. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#10 in Canada

#119 in the World

Founded: 1957

70. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#60 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

71. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#61 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

72. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#62 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

73. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#63 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

74. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Economics

#64 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#65 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

76. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#66 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Economics

#67 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

78. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#11 in Canada

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

79. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Economics

#12 in Canada

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

80. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Economics

#68 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

81. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Economics

#69 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

82. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#70 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

83. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#71 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

84. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#72 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

85. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#73 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

86. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#74 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

87. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Economics

#75 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

88. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Economics

#76 in the United States

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

89. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Economics

#77 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

90. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Economics

#78 in the United States

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Economics

#79 in the United States

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

92. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Economics

#13 in Canada

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

93. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#80 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

94. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Economics

#81 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

95. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#82 in the United States

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

96. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Economics

#83 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

97. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Economics

#84 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

98. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Economics

#85 in the United States

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

99. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#86 in the United States

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

100. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#87 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

Economics subfields in North America

Actuarial Science359

Agricultural Economics176

Development Studies1259

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics696

Environmental Economics224

International Economics294

International Relations and Diplomacy307

International Trade337

Investment Banking and Stock trading409

Political Economy460