2026 Best Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region

Applied Economics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for applied economics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Applied Economics Schools in the Southeast Region

Best Schools for Applied Economics in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall applied economics education in the Southeast Region.

Top Schools in Applied Economics

1

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Blacksburg, VA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

19 Applied Economics Degrees Awarded

$56,261 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University the best school in the country for a degree in applied economics. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 19 applied economics degrees in the most recent data year. Applied Economics graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $56,261 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. More information about a degree in applied economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

2

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Applied Economics Degrees Awarded

$60,948 Median Starting Salary

Florida State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in applied economics, ranking #2. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 applied economics students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the applied economics program make about $60,948 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625. More information about a degree in applied economics from Florida State University

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.

• 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.