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18 Best Economics Universities in the United States

Of the 18 Economics universities in the United States, University of California, Los Angeles ranks highest at #40 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by University of Alabama at Birmingham (#175 in United States) and The University of Alabama (#216 in United States). Across the whole list there are 19 courses to choose from.

18 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Economics at other levels

By university type

How these universities are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — University of California, Los Angeles at #40 — so it heads the list. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of California, Los Angeles has the largest research record in this group, with 52,934,262 citations and an h-index of 1,659.

Public, private and where they are

The split is 18 public to 0 private institutions.

Inside the course list

By level: 18 bachelor's and 1 master's. The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 95% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). University of Alabama at Birmingham offers the widest choice, with 2 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in the United States for Economics?

University of California, Los Angeles (QS World #40), University of Alabama at Birmingham (#175 in United States) and The University of Alabama (#216 in United States) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer Economics in the United States?

18 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does an Economics course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Economics courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Economics online with a university in the United States?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Economics courses in the United States?

University of Alabama at Birmingham, with 2, ahead of United States Air Force Academy (1).

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