2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in District of Columbia
[International Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/international-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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for international economics students.
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2026 Best Value International Economics Schools in District of Columbia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the international economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value International Economics Schools
Leading the list is George Washington University, our #1 best value for international economics in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $23,250. International Economics graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $75,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the best values for international economics. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $16,500. International Economics graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 13%.
Students looking for strong value in international economics will find it at American University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Typical student debt for international economics graduates is $22,625. International Economics graduates of American University earn a median of $72,527 early in their careers. Set against $22,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. American University admits about 62% of applicants.
More International Economics Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
