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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Applied Economics

18 Ranked Colleges
384 Degrees Awarded
$23,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Applied Economics is the 497th most popular major in the country with 652 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 384 applied economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in applied economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent applied economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the applied economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Applied Economics Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Applied Economics

#1

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 30 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $15,620 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Applied Economics at UNI

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Utah State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

USU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend USU is $13,634 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

Full Utah State University Applied Economics Report

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Central Oklahoma landed the #3 spot on the list. UCO is a public institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCO not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Oklahoma is $16,562 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students.

Full University of Central Oklahoma Applied Economics Report

#16 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BGSU, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,394 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students per year to attend BGSU.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#5

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 65 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $17,740 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#6

Binghamton University

Vestal, New York
#4 in overall quality

Binghamton University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. Binghamton University is a fairly large public school situated in Vestal, New York. It awarded 137 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Binghamton University also made our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $19,353 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students per year to attend Binghamton University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Binghamton University

#7

Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, New York
#14 in overall quality

Farmingdale State College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is located in Farmingdale, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is $8,638 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale

#8

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

Virginia Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $21,198 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, 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 93%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Virginia Tech

#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at University of Akron Main Campus

#10

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

St Catherine University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #10. St Catherine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 2 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree applied economics students list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Catherine University is $19,078 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Read full report on Applied Economics at St. Kate’s

#11

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#11 in overall quality

University of Arizona came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also made our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $15,016 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full University of Arizona Applied Economics Report

#12

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #12. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

DePaul also made our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $30,090 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students per year to attend DePaul.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Full DePaul Applied Economics Report

#13

Bryant University

Smithfield, Rhode Island
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Bryant University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s applied economics students in 2019-2020.

Bryant did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Bryant is $39,234 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Bryant University

#14

Ithaca College

Ithaca, New York
#12 in overall quality

Ithaca College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

Ithaca did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Ithaca is $33,465 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Applied Economics at Ithaca

#15

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #15. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s applied economics degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for USFCA is $36,424 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Full University of San Francisco Applied Economics Report

#16

Ursinus College

Collegeville, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

Ursinus College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Ursinus College is located in Collegeville, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

Ursinus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $28,390 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students per year to attend Ursinus College.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Ursinus College Applied Economics Report

#17

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s applied economics degrees to qualified students.

Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Carnegie Mellon University is $34,508 for Bachelor’s Degree Applied Economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Applied Economics at Carnegie Mellon University

#18

Pitzer College

Claremont, California
#2 in overall quality

Pitzer College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Applied Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Pitzer College is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 1 bachelors’s applied economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitzer also made our “Best Applied Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $34,071 for bachelor’s degree applied economics students per year to attend Pitzer College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Applied Economics at Pitzer

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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