100 Best colleges for Economics in the United States

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 693M citations received by 21.4M academic papers made by 1,255 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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Economics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Economics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Economics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

5. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

6. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

7. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Economics

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

9. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Economics

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

10. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Economics

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Economics

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Economics

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Economics

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

15. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Economics

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

16. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Economics

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Economics

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Economics

#19 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

19. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Economics

#21 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

20. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Economics

#22 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

21. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Economics

#23 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

22. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#24 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

23. University of Texas at Austin

For Economics

#25 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

24. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Economics

#26 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Economics

#27 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

26. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Economics

#28 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

27. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Economics

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

28. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Economics

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Economics

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Economics

#32 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

32. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Economics

#34 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Economics

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Economics

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

35. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Economics

#37 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

36. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Economics

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

37. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Economics

#40 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

38. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Economics

#41 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Economics

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

40. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Economics

#44 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

41. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Economics

#46 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

42. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $31,240

43. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#48 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

44. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Economics

#49 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

45. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Economics

#50 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

46. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Economics

#51 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

47. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Economics

#52 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

48. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Economics

#53 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

49. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#55 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

50. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Economics

#57 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

51. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Economics

#58 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,159

52. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Economics

#59 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#60 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,049

54. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Economics

#62 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

55. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Economics

#63 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

56. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Economics

#65 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

57. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Economics

#67 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

58. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Economics

#68 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

59. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Economics

#69 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

60. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Economics

#70 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

61. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Economics

#71 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,545

62. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Economics

#72 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

63. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Economics

#73 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

64. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Economics

#74 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

65. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Economics

#75 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,078

66. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Economics

#76 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

67. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Economics

#77 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,028

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Economics

#78 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Economics

#81 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,292
Enrollment: 35,626

70. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Economics

#82 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Economics

#83 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,566

72. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Economics

#84 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,166

73. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Economics

#85 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,513

74. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Economics

#86 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,162
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $47,556

75. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Economics

#88 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

76. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Economics

#89 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $31,630

77. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Economics

#90 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

78. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Economics

#91 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Economics

#92 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

80. Brigham Young University - Provo

For Economics

#93 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $13,432

81. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Economics

#94 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,492

82. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Economics

#95 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

83. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Economics

#96 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

84. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Economics

#97 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

85. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Economics

#98 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Economics

#99 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Economics

#100 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $28,622

88. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Economics

#101 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $19,199
Enrollment: 19,841

89. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Economics

#102 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Economics

#103 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1248
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Economics

#104 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

92. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Economics

#105 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

93. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Economics

#109 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $13,590
Enrollment: 22,257

94. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Economics

#110 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Economics

#111 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,048

96. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Economics

#112 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 85%

97. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Economics

#113 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1281
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Economics

#115 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 82%

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Economics

#116 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,531

100. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Economics

#117 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

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 Science303

Agricultural Economics158

Development Studies1064

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics579

Environmental Economics164

International Economics214

International Relations and Diplomacy284

International Trade262

Investment Banking and Stock trading326

Political Economy372