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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Applied Economics

51 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 550 people earned their degree in applied economics, making the major the 534th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major” ranking looked at 51 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in applied economics. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their applied economics program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The applied economics school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for applied economics students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Applied Economics

1
Ursinus crest
Ursinus College
Collegeville, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ursinus College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major. Ursinus is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. It awarded 46 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Ursinus College

2
Binghamton University crest
Binghamton University
Vestal, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Binghamton University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. This fairly large school is located in Vestal, New York, and it awarded 126 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Binghamton University Applied Economics Report

3
SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale crest
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York

Out of the 51 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Farmingdale State College landed the #3 spot on the list. SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is a medium-sized school located in Farmingdale, New York that handed out 16 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Farmingdale State College Applied Economics Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Auburn University at Montgomery. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Auburn University at Montgomery is located in Montgomery, Alabama and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Auburn University at Montgomery

5
Bryant crest
Bryant University
Smithfield, Rhode Island

Out of the 51 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Bryant University landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and it awarded 0 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Bryant University

6

University of Northern Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 26 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Applied Economics Report

7

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 53 ’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 36 diplomas to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

9
Buffalo State crest
Buffalo State
Buffalo, New York

Buffalo State came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. Located in Buffalo, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Buffalo State

10
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Marquette University is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 ’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Marquette University Applied Economics Report

11
Georgetown crest
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia

Georgetown University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking, coming in at #11. Georgetown is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 ’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Georgetown University

12
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Carnegie Mellon

13
14
St. Kate's crest
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Applied Economics at St. Kate’s

15

Southern Methodist University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. Southern Methodist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 1 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Southern Methodist University

16

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied economics degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at UCLA

17
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York

Ithaca College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. Ithaca College is a medium-sized school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 1 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Ithaca

18
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #18, Florida State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Florida State Applied Economics Report

19

University of Massachusetts - Boston did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking, coming in at #19. Boston, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied economics degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at University of Massachusetts - Boston

20
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 19 ’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Virginia Tech

21
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 24 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at UH

22

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s applied economics degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

23
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #23, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Applied Economics Report

24

University of Central Oklahoma ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. Located in Edmond, Oklahoma, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s applied economics students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at University of Central Oklahoma

25
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Applied Economics Major list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 0 ’s applied economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Eastern Michigan

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