by our College Data Analytics Team
[Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong economics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 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.
Leading the list is College Of Charleston, our #1 best value for economics in South Carolina. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $24,733. Early-career economics graduates make about $40,222. That is a strong return on a $24,733 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #2 makes Clemson University one of the best values for economics. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $45,075. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value economics schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,062 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $48,149 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #4 makes Furman University one of the best values for economics. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,770. Economics graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Economics graduates of Furman University earn a median of $55,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.