2027 Best Economics Schools in the Southeast Region
Economics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 70 schools to find the best for economics students.
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Best Schools for Economics in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall economics education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Economics
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for economics. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 234 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $84,311 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,424 to complete this degree.
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Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #2. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. There were roughly 263 economics students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $98,649 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,437 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Duke University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #3. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 398 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $65,344 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,843.
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A rank of #4 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the top schools for economics. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 97 economics students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #5. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 385 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $74,958 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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College Of William And Mary earned the #6 position for economics this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 114 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $65,603 in the first couple years of their career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,678 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from College Of William And Mary
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #7 spot for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 19 economics students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $59,622 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,113.
See the full economics program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Davidson College earned the #8 position for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Davidson College awarded about 51 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Davidson College earn around $70,785 in the first couple years of their career. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University placed #9 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 economics students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $56,416. Students borrow a median of $20,927 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in economics from Wake Forest University
James Madison University placed #10 among the best economics schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 economics students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $62,286 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $18,575 in student loans.
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University Of Richmond landed the #11 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Richmond awarded about 41 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $61,027 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 137 economics students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $56,261 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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University Of Florida landed the #13 spot for economics this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 332 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $42,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,851 to complete this degree.
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Emory University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 75 economics students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $70,446 in their early career. Emory University graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Emory University
Belmont University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 12 economics degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Belmont University earn around $49,699 in the first couple years of their career. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans.
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Florida State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 244 economics students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $60,948 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
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University Of Georgia ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 79 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $49,725 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $16,924 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #18 for economics this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 15 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $51,799 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete this degree.
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Elon University landed the #19 spot for economics this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 29 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $69,298. Elon University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Washington And Lee University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Washington And Lee University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 economics students who graduated with this degree at Washington And Lee University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $71,737 in their early career. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #21 spot for economics this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 89 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $46,386. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full economics program report for Tulane University Of Louisiana
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #22 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 50 economics students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $49,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,348 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University came in at #23 for economics this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 157 economics degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $74,431 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Miami placed #24 among the best economics schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 120 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $42,129 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Alabama placed #25 among the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 117 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $50,740. Typical student debt for the program is $24,496.
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Rest of the Top 50 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 70 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.