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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in the Southeast Region

27 Ranked Colleges
164 Degrees Awarded
$99,068 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region” ranking.

Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 6,166 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $46,738 and $21,917 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 164 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,087 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in economics. That schools that top this list have a program in economics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region doctor’s degree economics students.

Top 27 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in the Southeast Region

1
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Out of the 27 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #1 spot on the list. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Full Vanderbilt University Economics Report

2
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Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Duke University Economics Report

3
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University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Mississippi. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region. University of Southern Mississippi is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Economics at University of Southern Mississippi

4
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Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region. Georgia State University is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 18 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Economics at Georgia State

5
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George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

Out of the 27 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the #5 spot on the list. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 86%.

Read more about Economics at George Mason University

6
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North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #6. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 15 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full NC State Economics Report

7
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Full WVU Economics Report

8
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Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. Clemson is a large public school situated in Clemson, South Carolina. It awarded 9 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Full Clemson University Economics Report

9
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Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Tulane is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 6 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad 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 Tulane University of Louisiana

10
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University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Economics at University of Virginia

11
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Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #11. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Economics at Virginia Tech

12

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Economics Report

13

With a ranking of #13, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at University of South Carolina - Columbia

14
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University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UK is a large school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 3 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Economics at University of Kentucky

15
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University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Mississippi is a large public school situated in University, Mississippi. It awarded 2 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Ole Miss Economics Report

16
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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s economics degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full The University of Alabama Economics Report

17
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Florida State

18

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Georgia Tech is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 2 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Full Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Economics Report

19
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Economics at Middle Tennessee State University

20

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at USF Tampa

21
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

With a ranking of #21, Mississippi State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region list. Mississippi State University is a large school located in Mississippi State, Mississippi that handed out 1 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Economics at Mississippi State University

22

With a ranking of #22, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Louisiana State University

23
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University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Arkansas is a public institution located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UARK Economics Report

24

Florida International University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s economics degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Economics at FIU

25

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this large public school awarded 53 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s economics students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad 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 UT Knoxville

25
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #25. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 330 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UF

25
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Economics Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Emory University is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 167 doctorate’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Emory University

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