by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2024, College Factual analyzed 88 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Economics Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 5,395 bachelor's degrees in economics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of economics for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality economics program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your bachelor's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for economics students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Economics Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Vanderbilt University is a great decision for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from Vanderbilt University earn a boost of around $28,082 over the average income of economics majors.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Vanderbilt University
Duke University is a good choice for individuals interested in a bachelor's degree in economics. Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Durham.
Bachelor's recipients from the economics major at Duke University earn $50,040 more than the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Duke University
Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in economics needs to take a look at University of Virginia - Main Campus. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a very large student population.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from University of Virginia - Main Campus earn a boost of approximately $17,543 over the average income of economics graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Virginia - Main Campus
It's difficult to beat Emory University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Atlanta.
Bachelor's recipients from the economics degree program at Emory University earn $10,399 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Emory University
Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a very large student population.
Bachelor's recipients from the economics degree program at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn $12,652 above the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UF is a very large public university located in the city of Gainesville.
After graduating, economics bachelor's recipients generally make about $45,380 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Florida
Located in the large city of New Orleans, Tulane is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the economics program make about $40,619 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Tulane University of Louisiana
Washington and Lee is a small private not-for-profit university located in the town of Lexington.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from Washington and Lee University earn a boost of around $6,984 above the typical earnings of economics graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Washington and Lee University
Located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from Wake Forest University get an earnings boost of around $12,441 above the typical earnings of economics graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Wake Forest University
Virginia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Blacksburg.
Soon after graduation, economics bachelor's recipients typically make an average of $43,249 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Virginia Tech
Florida State is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee.
Soon after graduating, economics bachelor's recipients usually make around $39,699 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Florida State University
William & Mary is a moderately-sized public school located in the small suburb of Williamsburg.
Those economics students who get their bachelor's degree from William & Mary make $10,320 more than the typical economics student.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from William & Mary
Georgia Tech is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Atlanta.More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Economics Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 15 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC |
| 16 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 17 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 18 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 19 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA |
| 20 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
| 21 | University of Richmond | University of Richmond, VA |
| 22 | Centre College | Danville, KY |
Explore the best economics colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 225 | 1,333 |
| Georgia | 224 | 519 |
| Tennessee | 220 | 365 |
| North Carolina | 213 | 1,058 |
| Virginia | 213 | 1,201 |
| South Carolina | 195 | 287 |
| Kentucky | 187 | 202 |
| Alabama | 184 | 69 |
| Louisiana | 171 | 189 |
| Mississippi | 169 | 49 |
| Arkansas | 167 | 89 |
| West Virginia | 147 | 34 |
Economics is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Economics | 4,470 |
| Econometrics & Quantitative Economics | 769 |
| Other Economics | 66 |
| Development Economics & International Development | 59 |
| Applied Economics | 18 |
| International Economics | 13 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science & Government | 10,731 |
| Sociology | 5,685 |
| International Relations & National Security | 2,620 |
| Anthropology | 1,803 |
| General Social Sciences | 1,327 |
| Geography & Cartography | 679 |
| Sociology & Anthropology | 120 |
| Urban Studies | 86 |
| Other Social Sciences | 73 |
| Archeology | 20 |
