2027 Best Economics Schools in the The Plains States Region
Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best economics schools.
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Best Schools for Economics in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall economics education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Economics
Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in economics. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 167 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $66,325 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,110.
See the full economics program report for Washington University In St Louis
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Saint Louis University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for economics. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 268 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Economics graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,902 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Grinnell College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in economics, ranking #4. Set in the town of Grinnell, Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 46 economics degrees were awarded at Grinnell College in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from Grinnell College earn around $46,791 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,950 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Grinnell College
Carleton College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Carleton College awarded about 27 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Carleton College earn around $66,567 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full economics program report for Carleton College
University Of North Dakota ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $64,378 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for University Of North Dakota
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #7 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 195 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $52,635 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,815 to complete this degree.
Get the full economics details for University Of Missouri Columbia
Drake University came in at #8 for economics this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 economics students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $56,228. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
Get the full economics details for Drake University
Macalester College came in at #9 for economics this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Macalester College awarded about 45 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $59,752 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
See the full economics program report for Macalester College
University Of Iowa landed the #10 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $50,223. Typical student debt for the program is $22,407.
See the full economics program report for University Of Iowa
St Olaf College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. St Olaf College graduates 84% of students within six years. About 70 economics degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $56,238. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the economics program at St Olaf College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. About 29 economics degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the economics program make about $60,323 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,600.
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University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #13 among the best economics schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. About 21 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $60,324 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
Get the full economics details for University Of Missouri Kansas City
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #14 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 108 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $44,898 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,793.
See the full economics program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Iowa State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 41 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $57,619 in their early career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,414 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for Iowa State University
Gustavus Adolphus College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 77% of students within six years. Gustavus Adolphus College awarded about 17 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from Gustavus Adolphus College earn around $52,439 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,474 to complete this degree.
See the full economics program report for Gustavus Adolphus College
University Of Kansas placed #17 among the best economics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 57 economics degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their economics degree from University Of Kansas earn around $45,420 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Kansas State University placed #18 among the best economics schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 economics degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $52,490. Students borrow a median of $20,312 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at Kansas State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 48 economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans.
See the full economics program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #20 position for economics this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 12 economics degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Typical student debt for the program is $21,474.
More information about a degree in economics from Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Duluth. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 13 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $50,873. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at University Of Minnesota Duluth
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for economics this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 20 economics students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their economics degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $54,076 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,153 to complete this degree.
Read more about the economics program at North Dakota State University Main Campus
Creighton University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Omaha. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 14 economics degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $54,827. Typical student debt for the program is $26,250.
Read more about the economics program at Creighton University
Saint Johns University landed the #24 spot for economics this year. Located in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 economics students who graduated with this degree at Saint Johns University in the most recent data year. Economics graduates of Saint Johns University earn a median of $54,752 early in their careers. Saint Johns University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in economics from Saint Johns University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #25 spot for economics this year. This large public university is located in the city of Omaha. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 19 economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the economics program make about $48,906 in their early career. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates carry a median of $21,783 in student loans.
Read more about the economics program at University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Rest of the Top 30 Economics Schools
These schools also placed among the best for economics this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 30 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.
