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2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

201 Ranked Colleges
4,493 Degrees Awarded
$35,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 4,493 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 201 colleges that offer a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Economics (With Aid)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 201 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Yale University landed the #1 spot on the list. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 72 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Yale University

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 94 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Harvard also took the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at Harvard

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read full report on Economics at UNC Chapel Hill

#4

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 21 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at UF

#5

Hunter College

New York, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hunter College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 8 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Economics at Hunter

#6

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#17 in overall quality

Princeton University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Princeton is a medium-sized school located in Princeton, New Jersey that handed out 28 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Princeton also made our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Princeton University

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#8

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana

With a ranking of #8, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 19 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Economics Report

#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 156 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree economics students with aid list, UW - Madison has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at University of Wisconsin - Madison

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 23 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read more about Economics at California State University - Los Angeles

#11

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#13 in overall quality

Stanford University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at Stanford University

John Jay College of Criminal Justice did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 4 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay are $20,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at John Jay College of Criminal Justice

#13

Williams College

Williamstown, Massachusetts
#14 in overall quality

Williams College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and it awarded 27 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Williams also took the #14 spot in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Williams College are $59,350, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at Williams

Top 20% in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 76 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC excels when it comes to economics quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Economics at UIUC

#15

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s economics degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The City College of New York Economics Report

#16

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 63 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Economics Report

#17

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#18 in overall quality

Rice University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree economics students with aid list, Rice has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913.

Read more about Economics at Rice

#18

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#20 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 68 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at University of California - Los Angeles

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Economics at UT Dallas

Top 25% in overall quality

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified masters’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334.

Read more about Economics at Georgia Tech

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Full Cal State Fullerton Economics Report

University of California - Irvine ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Irvine are $28,456.

Full University of California - Irvine Economics Report

#23

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland

Johns Hopkins University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 278 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Johns Hopkins University Economics Report

#5 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 128 masters’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Economics at Columbia University in the City of New York

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 11 masters’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.

Read full report on Economics at University of South Florida - Main Campus

Rest of the Best 31 in Best Value Economics Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 31 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#27

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#29

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#30

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#31

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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