100 Best colleges for Economics in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Economics. A graph of 80.5M citations received by 2.9M academic papers made by 1,317 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Economics

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Economics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Economics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Economics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

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

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Economics

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Economics

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Economics

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

13. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Economics

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

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

14. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Economics

#15 in North America

#16 in the World

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

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Economics

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Economics

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

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

17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Economics

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Economics

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Economics

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

20. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Economics

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

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

21. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Economics

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

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

22. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Economics

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

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

23. University of Texas at Austin

For Economics

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

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

24. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

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

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Economics

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

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

26. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Economics

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

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

27. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Economics

#29 in North America

#39 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Economics

#30 in North America

#43 in the World

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

29. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Economics

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

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

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Economics

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

31. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

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

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Economics

#34 in North America

#48 in the World

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

33. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#35 in North America

#49 in the World

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

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Economics

#36 in North America

#50 in the World

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

35. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#37 in North America

#52 in the World

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

36. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Economics

#38 in North America

#56 in the World

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

37. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Economics

#39 in North America

#58 in the World

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

38. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Economics

#41 in North America

#62 in the World

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

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Economics

#42 in North America

#63 in the World

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

40. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Economics

#45 in North America

#69 in the World

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

41. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Economics

#46 in North America

#70 in the World

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

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

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

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Economics

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

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

44. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#49 in North America

#76 in the World

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

45. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#50 in North America

#77 in the World

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

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Economics

#51 in North America

#78 in the World

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

47. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Economics

#52 in North America

#81 in the World

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

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Economics

#53 in North America

#82 in the World

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

49. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#54 in North America

#85 in the World

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

50. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#55 in North America

#90 in the World

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

51. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Economics

#58 in North America

#99 in the World

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

52. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Economics

#59 in North America

#100 in the World

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

53. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Economics

#61 in North America

#107 in the World

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

54. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Economics

#63 in North America

#110 in the World

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

55. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Economics

#64 in North America

#111 in the World

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

56. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#66 in North America

#117 in the World

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

57. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Economics

#67 in North America

#118 in the World

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

58. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Economics

#68 in North America

#119 in the World

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

59. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Economics

#69 in North America

#120 in the World

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

60. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#70 in North America

#125 in the World

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

61. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Economics

#71 in North America

#127 in the World

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

62. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Economics

#72 in North America

#128 in the World

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

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Economics

#73 in North America

#129 in the World

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

64. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Economics

#74 in North America

#132 in the World

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

65. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Economics

#75 in North America

#133 in the World

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

66. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Economics

#76 in North America

#134 in the World

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

67. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Economics

#77 in North America

#136 in the World

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

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Economics

#78 in North America

#138 in the World

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

69. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Economics

#79 in North America

#140 in the World

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

70. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Economics

#80 in North America

#142 in the World

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

71. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Economics

#83 in North America

#149 in the World

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

72. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#84 in North America

#152 in the World

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

73. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Economics

#85 in North America

#154 in the World

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

74. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Economics

#86 in North America

#157 in the World

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

75. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Economics

#87 in North America

#159 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Economics

#89 in North America

#169 in the World

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

77. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Economics

#90 in North America

#170 in the World

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

78. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Economics

#91 in North America

#171 in the World

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

79. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Economics

#92 in North America

#172 in the World

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

80. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Economics

#93 in North America

#175 in the World

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

81. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Economics

#94 in North America

#185 in the World

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

82. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Economics

#95 in North America

#187 in the World

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

83. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Economics

#96 in North America

#189 in the World

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

84. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Economics

#97 in North America

#193 in the World

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

85. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Economics

#98 in North America

#199 in the World

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

86. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Economics

#99 in North America

#200 in the World

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

87. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Economics

#100 in North America

#208 in the World

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

88. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Economics

#101 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

89. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#102 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $41,369

90. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Economics

#103 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Economics

#104 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Economics

#105 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

93. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Economics

#106 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

94. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Economics

#107 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

95. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Economics

#111 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

96. California University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | California

For Economics

#112 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

97. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Economics

#113 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Economics

#114 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Economics

#115 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

100. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Economics

#116 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

The best cities to study Economics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Ann Arbor, Stanford, and Berkeley.

Economics subfields in the United States

Actuarial Science318

Agricultural Economics154

Development Studies1135

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics606

Environmental Economics184

International Economics237

International Relations and Diplomacy290

International Trade276

Investment Banking and Stock trading351

Political Economy393