100 Best colleges for Economics in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 121M citations received by 3.33M academic papers made by 1,361 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Economics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Economics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Economics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Economics

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

9. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

10. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Economics

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Economics

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

12. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Economics

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

13. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Economics

#15 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Economics

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Economics

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Economics

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

18. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Economics

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Economics

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

20. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Economics

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

21. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Economics

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Economics

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

23. University of Texas at Austin

For Economics

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

24. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

25. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Economics

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

26. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Economics

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Economics

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

28. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Economics

#30 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Economics

#31 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Economics

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Economics

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

32. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#34 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#35 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Economics

#36 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

35. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#37 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

36. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Economics

#38 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Economics

#40 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

38. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Economics

#41 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

39. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Economics

#43 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

40. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Economics

#44 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

41. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Economics

#46 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

42. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Economics

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

43. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

44. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#49 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

45. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#50 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

46. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Economics

#51 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#52 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Economics

#53 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Economics

#54 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

50. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Economics

#56 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

51. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#59 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

52. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Economics

#60 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

53. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#62 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

54. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Economics

#63 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

55. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Economics

#64 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Economics

#65 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

57. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Economics

#66 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

58. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Economics

#67 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

59. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Economics

#68 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

60. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Economics

#70 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

61. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Economics

#71 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

62. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Economics

#72 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

63. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Economics

#73 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

64. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Economics

#74 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

65. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#75 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Economics

#76 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Economics

#77 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Economics

#80 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

69. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Economics

#81 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

70. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Economics

#82 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

71. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#83 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

72. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Economics

#84 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Economics

#85 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

74. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Economics

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

75. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Economics

#87 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

76. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Economics

#88 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

77. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Economics

#89 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

78. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Economics

#91 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

79. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Economics

#92 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

80. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Economics

#93 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Economics

#94 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

82. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Economics

#95 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

83. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Economics

#96 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

84. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Economics

#97 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

85. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Economics

#98 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

86. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Economics

#99 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

87. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#100 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,676

88. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Economics

#101 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

89. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Economics

#102 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

90. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Economics

#103 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

91. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Economics

#105 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Economics

#106 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

93. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Economics

#107 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Economics

#110 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Economics

#111 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

96. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Economics

#112 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

97. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Economics

#113 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

98. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Economics

#114 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Economics

#116 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

100. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Economics

#117 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

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

Economics subfields in the United States

Actuarial Science329

Agricultural Economics152

Development Studies1184

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics643

Environmental Economics193

International Economics262

International Relations and Diplomacy273

International Trade301

Investment Banking and Stock trading371

Political Economy418