Top Economics Universities & Colleges in USA in 2025 - Fees, Requirements & Eligibility
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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

Economics colleges in USA cover major elements like mathematics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, statistical analysis, and financial economics in the curriculum. According to QS Ranking 2022, 25 economics colleges in USA were included in the top 100 universities of the world. Number of jobs added for people with the typical qualification of Masters in Economics in USA is expected to be 2,900 by 2029.

  • Average pay of an economics graduate in USA is 105,020 USD (87.1 L INR) per year as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • According to BLS, the salary for economists is expected to increase by around 8% by 2026 with the industry witnessing 14% growth from 2019-2029.
  • USA is home to 7 out of the top 10 global universities according to QS Ranking 2022 and about 7.8% of international students study social sciences in the USA.

Economics Colleges in USA Fees

Best Economics Colleges in USA

University Name QS Global Rankings 2023 Tuition Fees (USD)
Harvard University 1 60,761
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 2 82,314
Stanford University 3 61,398
University of Chicago 4 67,779
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) 5 23,778
Princeton University 7 57,570
Yale University 8 68,831
New York University 11 35,801
Columbia University 12 57,402
University of Pennsylvania 13 65,274

Other Economics Colleges in USA

Economics Colleges in USA for Undergraduate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (USD) Tuition Fees (INR)
Harvard University 60,761 50.34 L
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 82,314 68.2 L
Stanford University 61,398 50.87 L
University of Chicago 67,779 56.15 L
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) 23,778 19.7 L

Economics Colleges in USA for Doctorate Programs

University Name Tuition Fees (USD) Tuition Fees (USD)
Princeton University 62,570 51.84 L
Yale University 44,500 36.87 L
New York University 58,862 48.7 L
Columbia University 57,402 47.5 L
University of Pennsylvania 43,832 36.31 L

Economics Colleges in USA: Admission Requirements

Harvard University

  • Applicants should have an understanding of economics and have taken at least some economics courses beyond the principles level.
  • Applicants should be able to demonstrate their ability to do research by either having done research previously or via experience as a research assistant.
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: TOEFL: 80 or above
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume
  • GRE is not required for admission

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree.
  • Applicants should have one full year of college mathematics and professional subjects in economics
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume
  • Three Letter of Recommendation

Stanford University

  • Applicants must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing.
  • The Economics Department does not require and does not consider GRE scores for 2023-24 admission.
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Resume
  • Three strong letters of recommendation

Princeton University

  • Applicants must have passed 12th and are expected to study the following subjects: Four years of English (including continued practice in writing) Four years of mathematics.
  • Strong prior knowledge of the field, mathematical aptitude, and work experience is recommended.
  • English Proficiency Test Scores: IELTS 6.5 | TOEFL: 90 or above
  • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose

University of Chicago

  • a transcript with two quarters of grades from MAPSS or MACSS.
  • Candidates should prove strong math skills, relevant work experience, and basic computer programming skills.
  • at least one letter of recommendation from one of the tenured-track faculty.
  • Updated Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letter of Recommendation

How to choose Universities?

There are more than 3500 universities in USA, so it is a tough task to select the right university. You need to extensively research the university’s ranking, course modules, and fees for the course. There are certain tools which recommend universities according to your profile, like the Grad School Finder (GSF). After the shortlisted universities, try to analyze how much is the return of investment, including, rankings, job opportunities, fees, course structure, research opportunities, etc. After that, use tools like University Comparer, to have comparison between universities shortlisted. Before finalizing, look at your budget, and the location of the university, and the student profiles of students who graduated to give an idea on how the career of the students who graduated from the university of your choice were.

FAQs

Ques. Is Economics a STEM-degree in USA?

Ans.The Department of Economics submitted applications to change the CIP codes for the BA and BS majors. The applications were recently approved and Economics is now designated as a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) discipline.


Ques.How much does it cost to study Economics courses in USA?

Ans.A master's degree takes 1.5-2 years to complete and costs 24,000 USD – 62,000 USD (19.8 L INR - 51.36 L INR) per year. A bachelor's degree in the field can take two-four years and cost 9,000 USD - 35,000 USD (7.45 L INR- 28.9 L INR) a year. A PhD in Economics can take three-five years and cost between 28,000 USD and 40,000 USD (23.19 L INR and 33.14 L INR) per year.


Ques.Are Scholarships available for international students?

Ans.Yes, each university offers financial assistance for the need- based students. You must check the portal of the university to verify your eligibility.


Ques.What is the average salary for economics graduates in USA?

Ans.Average pay of an economics graduate in USA is 105,020 USD (87.1 L INR) per year as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.


Ques.Can Indian students work in the USA after completing their studies?

Ans. A STEM certified MS economics program will allow international students to avail the 24 months OPT extension in addition to the 12 months OPT tenure.

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Found 652 universities

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RankCollege InfoTuition Fees & living Cost(Avg.)Top CoursesRanking & Reviews
#1Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Massachusetts, Usa4.52%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $66.8K/YrLiving$21.3K/YrAdmission MS EconomicsTOEFL100$86.5K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
4+ More Programs
Ranked 1 by US News in 2025
#2Princeton University logo

Princeton University, Princeton

New Jersey, Usa5%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $65.2K/YrLiving$21.2K/YrAdmission B.A EconomicsTOEFL100$65.2K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
1 More Program
8.3/10(1 User)Ranked 6 by US News in 2025
#3Harvard University logo

Harvard University, Cambridge

Massachusetts, Usa3%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $56.5K/YrLiving$13.6K/YrAdmission B.A EconomicsSAT1460TOEFL90$56.5K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
Programs
6.5/10(5 Users)Ranked 1 by US News in 2025
#4Stanford University logo

Stanford University, Stanford

California, Usa4%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $58.1K/YrLiving$34.3K/YrAdmission BA EconomicsSAT1510$67.7K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
3+ More Programs
7.2/10(4 Users)Ranked 1 by US News in 2025
#5California Institute of Technology logo

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

California, Usa3%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $64.5K/YrLiving$21K/YrAdmission B.A/B.S EconomicsDuolingo130IELTS7$65.6K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
1 More Program
8.3/10(3 Users)Ranked 15 by US News in 2025
#6UC-Berkeley logo

UC-Berkeley, Berkeley

California, Usa11.7%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $10K/YrLiving$7.8K/YrAdmission B.A EconomicsDuolingo115IELTS6.5PTE46$6.8K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
1 More Program
7.3/10(11 Users)Ranked 1 by US News in 2025
#7Yale University logo

Yale University, New Haven

Connecticut, Usa4.6%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $61.8K/YrLiving$19.9K/YrAdmission MA International and Development...Duolingo120IELTS7PTE70$50.9K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
4+ More Programs
8.2/10(3 Users)Ranked 6 by US News in 2025
#8University of Pennsylvania logo

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Pennsylvania, Usa5%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $59.7K/YrLiving$19K/YrAdmission M.B.A Business Economics and Pub...Duolingo135TOEFL100$88K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
7+ More Programs
7.3/10(6 Users)Ranked 9 by US News in 2025
#9University of Chicago logo

University of Chicago, Chicago

Illinois, Usa
Tuition:  $75.8K/YrLiving$29K/YrAdmission M.B.A EconomicsGMAT600TOEFL100PTE70$84.2K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
4+ More Programs
7.3/10(5 Users)Ranked 1 by US News in 2025
#10Johns Hopkins University logo

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Maryland, Usa6%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $62.8K/YrLiving$15.4K/YrAdmission MS Applied EconomicsTOEFL100PTE68$54.5K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
2+ More Programs
3.8/10(9 Users)Ranked 21 by US News in 2025
#11Cornell University logo

Cornell University, Ithaca

New York, Usa8%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $50.5K/YrLiving$18.6K/YrAdmission MS Applied Economics and Managem...IELTS7.0$71.3K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
4+ More Programs
5.7/10(11 Users)Ranked 15 by US News in 2025
#12UC-Los Angeles logo

UC-Los Angeles, Los Angeles

California, Usa9%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $41.2K/YrLiving$27.4K/YrAdmission M.A Applied EconomicsDuolingo130IELTS7$36.3K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
3+ More Programs
7.3/10(11 Users)Ranked 11 by US News in 2025
#13Columbia University logo

Columbia University, New York City

New York, Usa4%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $78.7K/YrAdmission MS Financial EconomicsGRE330TOEFL100PTE68$75.3K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
2+ More Programs
7.0/10(22 Users)Ranked 9 by US News in 2025
#14Umich-Ann Arbor logo

Umich-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor

Michigan, Usa16%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $106.5K/YrLiving$21K/YrAdmission Ph.D Business and EconomicsIELTS6.5$106.5K/Yr
Course duration: 3 years
Programs
9.7/10(17 Users)Ranked 23 by THE in 2026Ranked 45 by QS in 2026
#15Carnegie Mellon University logo

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania, Usa12%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $59.5K/YrLiving$15.4K/YrAdmission B.S EconomicsDuolingo135IELTS7.5$67K/Yr
Course duration: 4 years
12+ More Programs
7.2/10(9 Users)Ranked 21 by US News in 2025
#16Duke University logo

Duke University, Durham

North Carolina, Usa
Tuition:  $64.2K/YrAdmission MA EconomicsDuolingo125IELTS7$67.7K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
6+ More Programs
7.3/10(11 Users)Ranked 19 by US News in 2025
#17Northwestern University logo

Northwestern University, Evanston

Illinois, Usa
Tuition:  $72.5K/YrLiving$2.1K/YrAdmission M.A EconomicsIELTS7.5$61.3K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
3+ More Programs
9.0/10(5 Users)Ranked 8 by US News in 2025
#18New York University logo

New York University, New York City

New York, Usa9%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $60K/YrLiving$6.6K/YrAdmission M.A EconomicsDuolingo135TOEFL100$54.5K/Yr
Course duration: 2 years
8+ More Programs
8.7/10(24 Users)Ranked 12 by US News in 2025
#19Georgia Institute of Technology logo

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

Georgia, Usa14%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $33.2K/YrLiving$17.7K/YrAdmission M.Sc EconomicsGMAT680IELTS7$31.2K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
4+ More Programs
9.7/10(12 Users)Ranked 61 by US News in 2025
#20UI-Urbana logo

UI-Urbana, Urbana

Illinois, Usa43.7%Acceptance Rate
Tuition:  $43.1K/YrLiving$14.5K/YrAdmission M.S Agricultural and Applied Eco...TOEFL104$31.8K/Yr
Course duration: 1 year
3+ More Programs
9.0/10(19 Users)Ranked 32 by US News in 2025