2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 40,046 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 604 colleges that offered a degree in economics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality economics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s” list to help you make the college decision.
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Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree economics students.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics
Out of the 604 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 216 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, BYU is also in the top of our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,322 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at Brigham Young University - Provo
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s. Located in Rexburg, Idaho, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $7,167 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend BYU - I.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 604 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 17 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $13,748 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Economics at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 45 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is $14,580 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 more about Economics at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Park University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Park University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 7 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Park University is $15,579 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
South Dakota State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 37 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $19,252 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.
North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,584 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 more about Economics at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 57 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $15,463 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
Read full report on Economics at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Whitewater is $15,249 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend ASU - Skysong is $13,971 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
With a ranking of #12, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend SRU is $19,926 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
Read more about Economics at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Truman State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Truman State University is a public institution located in Kirksville, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,462 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend Truman State.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 43 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $16,020 for bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UMN Morris is a small public school situated in Morris, Minnesota. It awarded 15 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $11,412 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
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%.
Read full report on Economics at University of Minnesota - Morris
With a ranking of #16, Southern New Hampshire University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Manchester, New Hampshire is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 81 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend SNHU is $41,095 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
Hunter College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 143 students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Hunter is $2,490 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #18. University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $15,620 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
With a ranking of #19, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of South Dakota is a public institution located in Vermillion, South Dakota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for USD is $18,555 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Green Bay is $14,395 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
Read more about Economics at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,423 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Economics Report
University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $17,067 for bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend UMN Duluth.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Florida State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 279 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Florida State University is $9,789 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $16,221 for Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 ranking of #25, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend WIU is $16,210 for bachelor’s degree economics students.
Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Florida International University | Miami, FL |
| 52 | Metropolitan State University | Saint Paul, MN |
| 53 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg, PA |
| 54 | Grand Valley State University | Allendale, MI |
| 55 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 56 | SUNY Cortland | Cortland, NY |
| 57 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 58 | Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, MO |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside | Kenosha, WI |
| 60 | SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta, NY |
| 61 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
| 62 | Purdue University - Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN |
| 63 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 64 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 65 | Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | Edinboro, PA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee, FL |
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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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