2026 Best Value Economics Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Economics Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value economics schools in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,851. Economics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $42,349 early in their careers. Set against $15,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Cuny Hunter College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Economics graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $34,580. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Princeton University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $11,250. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $103,041. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #4. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. Economics graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $12,500. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $98,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Cuny City College came in at #6 for value in economics this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $7,300 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $45,556 early in their careers. Set against $7,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego landed the #7 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $51,192. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Florida State University earned the #8 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $17,625. Early-career economics graduates make about $74,592. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $33,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Rice University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $11,289. Early-career economics graduates make about $78,814. Set against $11,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine landed the #11 spot for economics value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $44,087. That is a strong return on a $15,499 median debt. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #12 among the best values for economics. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $62,091 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #13 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $66,334. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #14 spot for economics value this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $14,166. Early-career economics graduates make about $53,934. Set against $14,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,283 median debt. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #16 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $19,690 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $68,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Georgia earned the #17 position for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $16,924. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $49,725. That is a strong return on a $16,924 median debt. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #18 for value in economics this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $16,642. Early-career economics graduates make about $64,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University earned the #19 position for value in economics this year. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $23,772. Early-career economics graduates make about $51,750. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #20 spot for economics value this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,111. Economics graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $48,632 early in their careers. Set against $25,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Middle Tennessee State University earned the #21 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $22,754. Early-career economics graduates make about $43,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #22 for value in economics this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $24,700 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $59,187 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #23 among the best values for economics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $21,228. Economics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $58,921 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
San Francisco State University landed the #24 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $46,310. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Utah State University came in at #25 for value in economics this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,250. Early-career economics graduates make about $60,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Economics Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s economics value ranking:
Other Economics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Economics rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 937 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 113 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
