by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 114 schools to find the best return on investment for economics students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Princeton University earned the #1 spot for value among economics schools in the United States. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $11,250. Early-career economics graduates make about $103,041. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,851. Economics graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $42,349 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,851 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for economics. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $34,580. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,323. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. That is a strong return on a $24,323 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #5 place for economics. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $7,300 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $45,556. That is a strong return on a $7,300 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $62,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice came in at #7 for value in economics this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $11,750. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $33,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Florida State University landed the #8 spot for economics value this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $17,625. Economics graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $74,592 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #9 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,690. Economics graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $68,416 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,690 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego landed the #10 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $51,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University landed the #11 spot for economics value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,289 to complete the economics program here. Economics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $78,814 early in their careers. Set against $11,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
San Jose State University earned the #12 position for value in economics this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #13 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $19,819. Early-career economics graduates make about $48,335. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Stanford University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Economics graduates carry a median of $12,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $98,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #15 position for value in economics this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $19,002 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $37,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Chicago ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $92,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #17 among the best values for economics. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $21,228. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $58,921. Set against $21,228 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,111. Early-career economics graduates make about $48,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #19 for value in economics this year. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,781 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Economics graduates carry a median of $11,858 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $39,836. That is a strong return on a $11,858 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia earned the #20 position for value in economics this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $16,924 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $49,725 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,924 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #21 for value in economics this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $14,166 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $53,934. Set against $14,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #22 position for value in economics this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $13,000. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $50,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value 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. Economics graduates carry a median of $12,424 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $84,311. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #24 spot for economics value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $23,741. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #25 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,700. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $59,187. Set against $24,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in economics:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Economics rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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 · 114 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 114 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
