by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2024, College Factual analyzed 49 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Economics Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,886 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 full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for economics students working on their bachelor's degree.
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 Economics Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region list to help you make the college 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.
It's hard to beat Washington University in St Louis if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from Washington University in St Louis earn a boost of around $14,103 above the average income of economics graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Washington University in St Louis
It's hard to beat University of Minnesota - Twin Cities if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis.
Economics bachelor's degree recipients from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities earn a boost of about $2,832 over the typical earnings of economics majors.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Any student pursuing a degree in a bachelor's degree in economics has to check out Grinnell College. Grinnell is a small private not-for-profit college located in the town of Grinnell.
Bachelor's recipients from the economics program at Grinnell College make $9,173 more than the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Grinnell College
It is hard to beat Carleton College if you want to pursue a bachelor's degree in economics. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Bachelor's recipients from the economics program at Carleton College make $12,544 above the typical college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Carleton College
Located in the town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Those economics students who get their bachelor's degree from St Olaf College earn $8,689 more than the standard economics student.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from St Olaf College
Located in the small city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a very large student population.
Soon after graduating, economics bachelor's recipients usually make around $42,807 in their early careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Iowa
Located in the city of Lawrence, KU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Bachelor's graduates who receive their degree from the economics program earn an average of $43,144 in their early career salary.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Kansas
UST MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the economics program report average early career earnings of $46,741.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of St Thomas Minnesota
Located in the medium-sized city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a very large student population.
Soon after graduating, economics bachelor's recipients usually make about $44,765 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from University of Missouri - Columbia
Iowa State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Ames.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the economics program earn around $49,423 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in economics from Iowa State UniversityExplore the best economics colleges for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 228 | 333 |
| Minnesota | 215 | 778 |
| Iowa | 197 | 307 |
| Kansas | 184 | 318 |
| Nebraska | 180 | 95 |
| North Dakota | 149 | 21 |
| South Dakota | 148 | 34 |
Economics is one of 13 different types of Social Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Economics | 1,181 |
| Econometrics & Quantitative Economics | 437 |
| International Economics | 156 |
| Applied Economics | 81 |
| Other Economics | 22 |
| Development Economics & International Development | 9 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Political Science & Government | 2,186 |
| Sociology | 1,163 |
| Anthropology | 529 |
| General Social Sciences | 373 |
| International Relations & National Security | 334 |
| Geography & Cartography | 244 |
| Urban Studies | 68 |
| Sociology & Anthropology | 48 |
| Other Social Sciences | 20 |
| Archeology | 7 |
