Best Universities for Economics in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 89.9M citations received by 3.3M academic papers made by 1,400 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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Economics

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Economics

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#1 in Canada

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

7. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

8. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#7 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Economics

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

10. New York University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

11. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

12. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Economics

#11 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

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: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#13 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

15. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#14 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Economics

#15 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Economics

#16 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

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: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#18 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

20. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#19 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

21. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Economics

#2 in Canada

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

23. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

24. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#22 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

25. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Economics

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

26. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Economics

#24 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

27. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Economics

#25 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

28. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Economics

#26 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

29. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Economics

#27 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

30. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#28 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

31. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#29 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

32. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Economics

#30 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

33. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#31 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Economics

#32 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

35. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#33 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

36. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Economics

#34 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

37. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#35 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

38. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Economics

#36 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

39. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#37 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

40. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Economics

#3 in Canada

#59 in the World

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

41. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Economics

#38 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

42. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Economics

#39 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

43. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#4 in Canada

#64 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

44. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#5 in Canada

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

45. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Economics

#40 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

46. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Economics

#41 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

47. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#42 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

48. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#43 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

49. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Economics

#44 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

50. George Washington University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#45 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

51. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Economics

#46 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

52. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Economics

#47 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

53. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Economics

#48 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

54. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Economics

#49 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

55. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#50 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

56. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Economics

#6 in Canada

#94 in the World

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

57. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#7 in Canada

#95 in the World

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

58. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Economics

#51 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

59. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Economics

#52 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

60. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#8 in Canada

#102 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

61. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#53 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

62. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#9 in Canada

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

63. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#54 in the United States

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

64. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#55 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

65. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#10 in Canada

#112 in the World

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

66. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#56 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

67. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Economics

#57 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

68. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Economics

#58 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

69. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#59 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

70. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Economics

#60 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

71. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Economics

#61 in the United States

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

72. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Economics

#62 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Economics

#63 in the United States

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Economics

#64 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

75. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#65 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Economics

#66 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

77. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Economics

#67 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

78. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Economics

#68 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

79. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Economics

#69 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

80. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Economics

#70 in the United States

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

81. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Economics

#11 in Canada

#144 in the World

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

82. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Economics

#12 in Canada

#147 in the World

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

83. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Economics

#71 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

84. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Economics

#72 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

85. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#73 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

86. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Economics

#74 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

87. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Economics

#75 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

88. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Economics

#13 in Canada

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

89. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Economics

#76 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

90. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Economics

#77 in the United States

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Economics

#78 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Economics

#79 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

93. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Economics

#80 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

94. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#81 in the United States

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Economics

#82 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

96. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Economics

#83 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Economics

#84 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

98. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Economics

#85 in the United States

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Economics

#86 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

100. University of Alabama

United States | Alabama

For Economics

#87 in the United States

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

Economics subfields in North America

Actuarial Science350

Agricultural Economics179

Development Studies1209

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics662

Environmental Economics217

International Economics268

International Relations and Diplomacy326

International Trade312

Investment Banking and Stock trading388

Political Economy437