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2024 Best Economics Doctor's Degree Schools
College Factual looked at 124 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Economics Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,248 doctor's degrees in economics to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
- Best Doctor’s Degree Schools List
Choosing a Great Economics School for Your Doctor's Degree
Overall Quality Is a Must
The overall quality of a doctor's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average Early-Career Salaries
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their doctor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their doctor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on economics students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of economics students who choose to seek a doctor's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How easy is it for economics to pay back their student loans after receiving their doctor's degree.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized economics related body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for economics students working on their doctor's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Doctor's Degree Schools.
Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Economics in the United States
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for economics students seeking a a doctor'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.
18 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Economics
Any student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in economics has to check out University of Chicago. Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from University of Chicago
It's hard to beat Harvard University if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in economics. Harvard is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Cambridge. More information about a doctorate in economics from Harvard University
Northwestern University is a good option for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in economics. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. More information about a doctorate in economics from Northwestern University
University of Pennsylvania is a wonderful choice for individuals interested in a doctor's degree in economics. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from University of Pennsylvania
Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Stanford. More information about a doctorate in economics from Stanford University
Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Columbia University in the City of New York
Located in the midsize city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Yale University
Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Houston. More information about a doctorate in economics from Rice University
UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Berkeley. More information about a doctorate in economics from University of California - Berkeley
Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Duke University
Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Princeton. More information about a doctorate in economics from Princeton University
Vanderbilt is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Nashville. More information about a doctorate in economics from Vanderbilt University
Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Ithaca. More information about a doctorate in economics from Cornell University
Located in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Georgetown University
Located in the city of Providence, Brown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Brown University
Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Carnegie Mellon University
Located in the large city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Emory University
Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a doctorate in economics from Washington University in St Louis
Related Programs
Learn about other programs related to Economics that might interest you.
Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)
Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Economics students that almost earned our Best Economics Doctor's Degree Schools award.
Economics by Region
View the Best Economics Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Other Rankings
Best associate degrees in economics, best master's degrees in economics, best value in economics, best for non-traditional students in economics, best online in economics, most popular online in economics, best bachelor's degrees in economics, best overall in economics, highest paid grads in economics, best for veterans in economics, most popular in economics, most focused in economics.
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Economics Related Rankings by Major
Economics is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
Economics Concentrations
Majors similar to economics, notes and references.
- The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
- 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 the rest 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 ).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay . More about our data sources and methodologies .
Popular Reports
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PhD Program
Year after year, our top-ranked PhD program sets the standard for graduate economics training across the country. Graduate students work closely with our world-class faculty to develop their own research and prepare to make impactful contributions to the field.
Our doctoral program enrolls 20-24 full-time students each year and students complete their degree in five to six years. Students undertake core coursework in microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, and are expected to complete two major and two minor fields in economics. Beyond the classroom, doctoral students work in close collaboration with faculty to develop their research capabilities, gaining hands-on experience in both theoretical and empirical projects.
How to apply
Students are admitted to the program once per year for entry in the fall. The online application opens on September 15 and closes on December 15.
Meet our students
Our PhD graduates go on to teach in leading economics departments, business schools, and schools of public policy, or pursue influential careers with organizations and businesses around the world.
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The doctoral program in Economics at Harvard University is one of the leading programs in the world. Supported by a diverse group of faculty who are top researchers in their fields and fueled by a vast array of resources, the PhD program is structured to train and nurture students to become leading economists in academia, government agencies, the technology industry, finance and banking, and global policy organizations.
Harvard University and the Department of Economics are regularly ranked amongst the top programs in the world, and the consistency of success among our graduates is inspiring. We have educated several foreign heads of state, Nobel Prize Winners, Clark Medal Winners, MacArthur Fellowship Recipients - many of whom have returned to Harvard to offer their expertise and brilliance in shaping and nurturing our students. Learn more about where we place our graduates and explore our Program to find out if a PhD in Economics is a good fit for you.
Program Requirements
As a PhD student in the Economics program, students will spend the first two years in the program engaged in rigorous coursework designed to develop a foundational understanding of economics. In the following years, students transition to research under the guidance of strong faculty mentorship and participate in field workshops. In the final year, students conduct independent research and complete a dissertation.
The department of Economics at Harvard University is committed to seeking out and mentoring scholars who wish to pursue a rigorous and rewarding career in economic research. Our graduates are trailblazers in their fields and contribute to a diverse alumni community in both the academic and non-academic sectors. We invite you to learn more and apply to the PhD program in Economics.
Financial Support
Students have access to a variety of funding and financial support opportunities.
- Research Funding
- Teaching Fellowships and assistants
- Additional external and internal resources
Learn more about financial support
Upcoming Events
Econ 3009: graduate student workshop in industrial organization, location: .
Anhua Chen (Harvard University) "Racing to Gigantism: Consolidation and Economies of Scale in the Container Shipping Industry"... Read more about ECON 3009: Graduate Student Workshop in Industrial Organization
EC 3008 Graduate Student Workshop in International Economics
Tilman Graff (Harvard) - " Slack and Economic Development" ... Read more about EC 3008 Graduate Student Workshop in International Economics
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Namrata Narain (Harvard University) "Is There Horizon Mismatch Between Innovation and Venture Capital?"... Read more about ECON 3013 Graduate Student Workshop in Contracts and Organizations
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Doctor of Economics and Econometrics Programs in America
1-25 of 98 results
Stanford University Department of Humanities and Sciences
Stanford, CA •
Stanford University •
Graduate School
Stanford University ,
Graduate School ,
STANFORD, CA ,
Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Cambridge, MA •
Harvard University •
- • Rating 4.56 out of 5 9 reviews
Other: I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student' in the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Through this School, I will be focusing my time at the John A. Paulson school of Engineering & Applied Sciences. Looking forward to wrapping up my final year on campus! ... Read 9 reviews
Harvard University ,
CAMBRIDGE, MA ,
9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.6 stars.
Featured Review: Other says I am Harvard Extension School student pursuing a master degree, ALM, in sustainability. I have achieved a 3.89 in this program so far and have qualified, applied, and accepted as a 'Special Student'... .
Read 9 reviews.
Sanford School of Public Policy
Durham, NC •
Duke University •
- • Rating 4.75 out of 5 4 reviews
Current Master's student: My academic experience at Duke has been the most rewarding in my life. What makes Duke so great is the opportunity through the Sanford Policy School to exchange and engage ideas with professors and peers connected to my area of policy analysis. I have gotten the chance through summer internships to have real-world policy experience in analysis and implementation. Because my policy analysis is explicitly based on healthcare, I have focused on black maternal outcomes as my point of reference. I have had the opportunity to work with Professor Carolyn Barnes and collaborate since she is an expert in social and economic welfare and its effects on low-income families. The introductory and intermediate microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics classes give students a solid technical base when drafting briefs. One thing I would change is to provide more accessibility of recorded lectures when sick after the coronavirus. ... Read 4 reviews
Duke University ,
DURHAM, NC ,
4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.
Featured Review: Current Master's student says My academic experience at Duke has been the most rewarding in my life. What makes Duke so great is the opportunity through the Sanford Policy School to exchange and engage ideas with professors and... .
Read 4 reviews.
Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
University of Pittsburgh •
Graduate School •
PITTSBURGH, PA
Florida International University
- • Rating 4.63 out of 5 287
Mississippi State University
MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS
- • Rating 4.51 out of 5 49
School of Arts & Sciences - University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA •
University of Pennsylvania •
University of Pennsylvania ,
PHILADELPHIA, PA ,
Rice School of Social Sciences
Houston, TX •
Rice University •
Blue checkmark.
Rice University ,
HOUSTON, TX ,
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Evanston, IL •
Northwestern University •
Northwestern University ,
EVANSTON, IL ,
- Find college scholarships
College of Arts and Science
Nashville, TN •
Vanderbilt University •
Vanderbilt University ,
NASHVILLE, TN ,
College of Arts and Letters - University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN •
University of Notre Dame •
- • Rating 4.5 out of 5 2 reviews
Doctoral Student: The faculty at Notre Dame is excellent. The student to professor ratio makes for a wonderful one to one interaction between students and teachers. At Notre Dame, my interests, dreams, goals, research and career path matter. I loved this most. I feel taken seriously and supported with every possible resources for my mental, academic and career success. One gets many opportunities to grow talents through research, and presentations with helpful and supportive feedback from students and professors. For these reasons, I find it a place to be! On the down side, the weather is at first always a challenge for one who is not used to the harsh and gloomy midwestern winter. ... Read 2 reviews
University of Notre Dame ,
NOTRE DAME, IN ,
2 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.
Featured Review: Doctoral Student says The faculty at Notre Dame is excellent. The student to professor ratio makes for a wonderful one to one interaction between students and teachers. At Notre Dame, my interests, dreams, goals, research... On the down side, the weather is at first always a challenge for one who is not used to the harsh and gloomy midwestern winter. .
Read 2 reviews.
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Los Angeles, CA •
University of Southern California •
University of Southern California ,
LOS ANGELES, CA ,
Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences
Ithaca, NY •
Cornell University •
Cornell University ,
ITHACA, NY ,
Ross School of Business
Ann Arbor, MI •
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor •
- • Rating 5 out of 5 9 reviews
Master's Student: I will be beginning my MBA in January of 2024. The admissions staff are excellent and very supportive. I received my decision very quickly. ... Read 9 reviews
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ,
ANN ARBOR, MI ,
9 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says I will be beginning my MBA in January of 2024. The admissions staff are excellent and very supportive. I received my decision very quickly. .
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - Georgetown University
Nw Washington, DC •
Georgetown University •
- • Rating 5 out of 5 2 reviews
Master's Student: The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We are informed of the professors office time and so we can email them to make inquiries and get assistance when needed. We make presentations during class which train us to become more bold and be able to communicate the concepts easily. We are able to discuss and critic writings independently. We work on projects in groups of about 3-4 and discuss findings to the entire class and professor. We review research papers and make meta-analyses inform of class projects. The program is well structured and i am gaining skills. My worst experience is having to worry about Tuition and other related school bills. ... Read 2 reviews
Georgetown University ,
NW WASHINGTON, DC ,
2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says The program is highly practical. The professors explain concepts in class and give us home works to submit on each topic discussed on a weekly basis. This enables us to grasp the concepts more. We... .
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UCLA College of Letters and Science
University of California - Los Angeles •
- • Rating 3 out of 5 1 review
University of California - Los Angeles ,
1 Niche users give it an average review of 3 stars.
Read 1 reviews.
Krieger School of Arts & Sciences
Baltimore, MD •
Johns Hopkins University •
- • Rating 4.53 out of 5 19 reviews
Master's Student: I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student Advisor, Alexis has been extremely helpful in initiating my enrollment process and answering all of my questions in a timely matter. My intended Advanced Academic Program is the accelerated (2 semester), dual-modality, 40-credit M.S. in Biotechnology, Biodefense concentration. All of the anticipated course subjects are diverse and there's even a customizable core lab course on campus (at least until Summer 2024). I can't wait and I wish you all the best in your search for academic programs or professional certifications. ... Read 19 reviews
Johns Hopkins University ,
BALTIMORE, MD ,
19 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says I have yet to enroll for Fall 2023 after receiving my acceptance letter due to a delay in my need-based financial aid from JHU. However the Homewood Campus in Baltimore is beautiful and my Student... .
Read 19 reviews.
Darden School of Business
Charlottesville, VA •
University of Virginia •
- • Rating 4.89 out of 5 9 reviews
Master's Student: Very engaging experience with Darden's case method and learning team discussion; very small class and with an average of 80 students in your section, you will be able to have lots of chances to express your opinion freely; quite a diverse student backgrounds and international student count of almost 40%, where you will be able to truly understand the meaning and beauty of diversity and collaboration! As a women's leadership advocate, I am proud to see that this year's female-candidate ratio is approaching 38%, what an achievement! ... Read 9 reviews
University of Virginia ,
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ,
9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.9 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says Very engaging experience with Darden's case method and learning team discussion; very small class and with an average of 80 students in your section, you will be able to have lots of chances to... .
Laney Graduate School
Atlanta, GA •
Emory University •
Master's Student: I chose the graduate programs at Emory because they are ranked among the best in the country. The school of nursing also provides the clinical experiences, something many of the online only nurse practitioner programs do not do. ... Read 2 reviews
Emory University ,
ATLANTA, GA ,
Featured Review: Master's Student says I chose the graduate programs at Emory because they are ranked among the best in the country. The school of nursing also provides the clinical experiences, something many of the online only nurse... .
UC Berkeley College of Letters & Science
Berkeley, CA •
University of California - Berkeley •
University of California - Berkeley ,
BERKELEY, CA ,
College of Arts & Sciences - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC •
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill •
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ,
CHAPEL HILL, NC ,
College of Social Sciences & Humanities - Northeastern University
Boston, MA •
Northeastern University •
- • Rating 1 out of 5 2 reviews
Northeastern University ,
BOSTON, MA ,
2 Niche users give it an average review of 1 stars.
Leonard N. Stern School of Business
New York, NY •
New York University •
- • Rating 4.82 out of 5 28 reviews
Master's Student: As a part-time MBA candidate at NYU Stern, I'm deeply impressed by the program's blend of academic rigor and practical application. The faculty, industry leaders in their own right, provide invaluable insights, fostering a rich learning environment. The diversity among my peers enhances our discussions, offering varied perspectives on business challenges. Stern's location in NYC is ideal for networking and accessing career opportunities, which is crucial for a working professional like me. The flexibility of evening and weekend classes allows me to balance my professional and academic commitments effectively. Stern equips students with advanced business knowledge and fosters personal and professional growth, making it an exceptional choice for anyone aspiring to excel in the business world. ... Read 28 reviews
New York University ,
NEW YORK, NY ,
28 Niche users give it an average review of 4.8 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says As a part-time MBA candidate at NYU Stern, I'm deeply impressed by the program's blend of academic rigor and practical application. The faculty, industry leaders in their own right, provide... .
Read 28 reviews.
Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences
Chestnut Hill, MA •
Boston College •
Boston College ,
CHESTNUT HILL, MA ,
Virginia Tech College of Science
Blacksburg, VA •
Virginia Tech •
Virginia Tech ,
BLACKSBURG, VA ,
Liberal Arts and Sciences - University of Florida
Gainesville, FL •
University of Florida •
- • Rating 4 out of 5 1 review
Master's Student: Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a relatively strong student body of undergraduate students. Graduate students, however, are less cohesive. Likely due to politics, our graduate student union is in jeopardy, and it is so difficult to get the union membership to 60%. In the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Law, we have a very low union membership status, which is somewhat ironic considering the nature of our disciplines. The demands of balancing an assistantship and academic career are exhausting, and even more so with limited resources (financial, emotional, etc.). The faculty turnover in the dept. is also insane, likely due to the political situation that seems to be driving out all faculty members of color. Lastly, financial support is incredibly limited. All things aside, the education that I am receiving is appropriate. ... Read 1 review
University of Florida ,
GAINESVILLE, FL ,
1 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars.
Featured Review: Master's Student says Overall, the University of Florida seems to be a great school as far as rankings and attendance rates go. Despite the political turmoil going on in the state of Florida, there seems to be a... .
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences - Boston University
Boston University •
Boston University ,
College of Letters & Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI •
University of Wisconsin •
- • Rating 4.22 out of 5 9 reviews
Alum: Aside from being really cold, UW-Madison is a great school. Needless to say, it is one of the top schools in the U.S. with a beautiful campus that has Lake Mendota and a lot of student life to enjoy. Academic was really good too, but given how the city is college town, you can feel the emptiness when students go back home during summer break. It is known as party school too with Mifflin Street Block Party. But it is also highly academically renowned school. So you can make your campus life as fun or as beneficial as you can. There are many gyms and libraries that can handle 40k + students. In addition, you have to check out Camp Randall, the football stadium and attend The MadHatters A Cappella show. I really miss this campus except for the weather. State street has many diverse restaurants that are authentic and delicious. One of the best campuses in the world. ... Read 9 reviews
University of Wisconsin ,
MADISON, WI ,
9 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.
Featured Review: Alum says Aside from being really cold, UW-Madison is a great school. Needless to say, it is one of the top schools in the U.S. with a beautiful campus that has Lake Mendota and a lot of student life to enjoy.... .
The New School for Social Research
The New School •
NEW YORK, NY
- • Rating 2.5 out of 5 2
Mississippi State University College of Arts and Sciences
Mississippi State University •
Tulane University
NEW ORLEANS, LA
- • Rating 4.17 out of 5 35
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