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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Economics in the Plains States Region

84 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Economics Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 47,809 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , economics graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $48,722 and had an average of $21,489 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,990 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,488 and $23,008 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 84 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in economics.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Economics in the Plains States Region

1
Macalester crest
Macalester College
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Macalester College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region. Macalester is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Economics at Macalester

2
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St Olaf College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend St Olaf College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 80 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2021-2022.

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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Economics at St. Olaf

3
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Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grinnell College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grinnell, Iowa. It awarded 46 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, 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.

Full Grinnell Economics Report

4
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Saint Johns University
Collegeville, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Johns University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region. SJU is located in Collegeville, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 34 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Economics at SJU

5
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Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carleton College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Carleton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northfield, Minnesota. It awarded 34 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Economics at Carleton College

6
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Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, Minnesota

Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and it awarded 17 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Gustavus Adolphus Economics Report

7

Fort Hays State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 156 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Fort Hays State University

8
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #8, Coe College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Coe College is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 19 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

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. 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%.

Read more about Economics at Coe

9

University of Minnesota - Morris came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at UMN Morris

10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 316 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Twin Cities Economics Report

11
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Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Indianola, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Simpson College

12
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William Jewell College
Liberty, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, William Jewell College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. William Jewell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Liberty, Missouri. It awarded 3 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full William Jewell College Economics Report

13
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Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Luther College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Decorah, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Full Luther Economics Report

14

Washington University in St Louis landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Washington University in St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 120 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Economics at WUSTL

15
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Augsburg University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Augsburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 17 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Full Augsburg University Economics Report

16
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Central College
Pella, Iowa

Central College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Central College is a small school located in Pella, Iowa that handed out 7 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Central

17

Westminster College Missouri did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Fulton, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Westminster College Missouri

18
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Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region list. Truman State is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 10 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Truman State

19

University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. UST MN is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 62 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 University of St Thomas Minnesota Economics Report

20
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Economics at KU

21
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Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

Creighton University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Creighton is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 47 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Creighton University Economics Report

22
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Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Atchison, Kansas, and it awarded 5 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Benedictine College Economics Report

23
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University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 112 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at University of Iowa

24

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 134 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2021-2022.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Economics at University of Missouri - Columbia

25
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Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Drake University is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 8 ’s economics degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Drake Economics Report

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