2027 Best Value Applied Economics Master’s Degree Schools
[Applied Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/applied-economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value applied economics schools.
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2027 Best Value Applied Economics Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of California Los Angeles the best value for a degree in applied economics in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $63,833. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #2 makes Florida State University one of the best values for applied economics. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the applied economics program here. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $74,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for applied economics. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the applied economics program here. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $41,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $50,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $84,311. Set against $12,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Utah State University earned the #6 position for value in applied 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, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $15,250. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $60,472. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the applied economics program here. Applied Economics graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Set against $27,981 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Arizona came in at #9 for value in applied economics this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $19,610 to complete the applied economics program here. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $47,908. Set against $19,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,035 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $18,017. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $40,920. That is a strong return on a $18,017 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota placed #11 among the best values for applied economics. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $64,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
University At Buffalo came in at #12 for value in applied economics this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,225 to complete the applied economics program here. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for applied economics value this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $65,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Applied Economics graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $56,261 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut placed #15 among the best values for applied economics. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $22,907 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied economics degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $52,227. That is a strong return on a $22,907 median debt. Roughly 52% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Applied Economics graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $76,298. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,433 to complete the applied economics program here. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $55,390. Set against $22,433 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Georgetown University came in at #18 for value in applied economics this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,089. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $16,500. Early-career applied economics graduates make about $79,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Francisco ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value applied economics schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,522 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for applied economics graduates is $21,500. Applied Economics graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $58,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Other Applied Economics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value applied economics schools at other degree levels:
View All Applied Economics Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
