by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 180 colleges and universities when compiling its 2023 Best Economics Master's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 4,803 master's degrees in economics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of economics for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality economics program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for economics students working on their master's degree.
The 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 the Best Economics Master's Degree Schools.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
If you're the kind of person who enjoys working with numbers and solving tough problems, a graduate degree in economics may be for you.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for economics students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Duke University is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a master's degree in economics. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham.More information about a master’s in economics from Duke University
Johns Hopkins University is a good option for individuals interested in a master's degree in economics. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Those economics students who get their master's degree from Johns Hopkins University make $30,083 more than the typical economics student.
More information about a master’s in economics from Johns Hopkins University
Harvard University is a great option for individuals pursuing a master's degree in economics. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Harvard University
It is difficult to beat Columbia University in the City of New York if you wish to pursue a master's degree in economics. Columbia is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York.More information about a master’s in economics from Columbia University in the City of New York
Located in the city of Houston, Rice is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Rice University
Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Vanderbilt University
Yale is a large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of New Haven.More information about a master’s in economics from Yale University
Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Northwestern University
UPenn is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia.More information about a master’s in economics from University of Pennsylvania
UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago.More information about a master’s in economics from University of Chicago
Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Princeton University
Georgetown is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Washington.
Master's recipients from the economics degree program at Georgetown University earn $3,377 above the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in economics from Georgetown University
Brown is a large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Providence.More information about a master’s in economics from Brown University
Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Cornell University
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from University of Southern California
Located in the large suburb of Stanford, Stanford is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Stanford University
UCLA is a very large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in economics from University of California - Los Angeles
Emory is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Atlanta.More information about a master’s in economics from Emory University
Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the large city of Madison.More information about a master’s in economics from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Carnegie Mellon is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Pittsburgh.More information about a master’s in economics from Carnegie Mellon University
Located in the small city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Boston College
Mines is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden.
Those economics students who get their master's degree from Colorado School of Mines earn $29,486 more than the typical economics student.
More information about a master’s in economics from Colorado School of Mines
Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in economics from Boston University
NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York.More information about a master’s in economics from New York University
Here are some additional great schools for Economics students that almost earned our Best Economics Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | University of Maryland - College Park | College Park, MD |
| 29 | Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 30 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL |
| 31 | Tufts University | Medford, MA |
| 32 | University of California - San Diego | La Jolla, CA |
| 33 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE |
| 34 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 35 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA |
| 36 | American University | Washington, DC |
View the Best Economics Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Economics is one of 12 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Econometrics & Quantitative Economics | 3,384 |
| General Economics | 827 |
| Applied Economics | 240 |
| Development Economics & International Development | 238 |
| Other Economics | 86 |
| International Economics | 28 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| International Relations & National Security | 4,426 |
| Political Science & Government | 1,936 |
| Sociology | 1,298 |
| Geography & Cartography | 1,076 |
| Anthropology | 941 |
| Criminology | 789 |
| General Social Sciences | 596 |
| Other Social Sciences | 378 |
| Urban Studies | 351 |
| Demography & Population Studies | 51 |
