Ranking of Economics Graduate Programs

The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.


How to Read Your Ranking

  • Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
  • Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
  • Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
  • A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
  • Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
  • Data sources can be found below.

Do you think these rankings are useful? If so, you can help spread the word by linking to phds.org from your own site or blog.
Here is a direct link to your ranking.
Here are some other ways to help us.


Your Ranking of Economics Graduate Schools

Click on a program to see a detailed profile
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
1.Economics, Harvard University34.34.795%4.323.25.0$17,42525.6443.49%745745
1.Information Technology and Management, Harvard University34.34.795%4.323.25.0$17,42525.6443.49%745745
1.Organizational Behavior, Harvard University34.34.795%4.323.25.0$17,42525.6443.49%745745
4.Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology27.84.795%4.722.54.9$18,20121.0285.814%770730
5.Economics, University of Chicago25.05.792%4.623.75.0$17,97725.2317.040%715725
6.Economics, Stanford University24.95.795%4.616.14.9$17,08419.8364.112%735720
7.Economics, Yale University24.75.787%4.013.34.7$16,52620.2443.010%740740
8.Economics, Princeton University23.65.292%4.712.94.8$17,80514.4412.211%745735
9.Economics, Northwestern University23.25.297%4.014.24.4$17,24015.8472.230%715695
9.Managerial Economics & Strategy, Northwestern University23.25.297%4.014.24.4$17,24015.8472.230%715695
11.Economics, University of Maryland-College Park23.15.784%3.032.33.5$14,38218.6473.649%650625
12.Economics, University of Pennsylvania21.15.291%3.913.04.4$18,17114.8513.521%725705
13.Agricultural & Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison19.44.992%3.87.83.9$12,64022.6286.371%650615
14.Economics, Columbia University in the City of New York17.75.793%3.42.64.1$16,60020.4363.913%725715
14.Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison17.74.992%3.87.83.9$12,64019.0286.371%650615
16.Economics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor16.86.192%3.712.34.0$14,39912.6462.557%680640
17.Economics, University of California-Los Angeles15.35.285%3.69.74.1$24,00721.0641.623%665630
18.Economics, Brown University14.54.790%3.46.33.3$16,2029.0302.015%725710
19.Economics, University of California-Berkeley13.66.290%4.115.44.6$24,52124.6413.725%685645
20.Economics, University of Rochester13.35.596%4.015.64.0$17,02810.8274.546%670650
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
21.Economics, Cornell University13.04.988%3.46.63.6$16,96911.2302.527%710675
22.Economics, New York University12.15.078%3.27.53.6$18,35716.0371.537%665665
23.Economics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities11.55.897%4.14.34.2$12,80514.6186.070%630600
24.Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign10.86.188%2.92.63.1$14,71414.4553.968%675615
25.Economics, Duke University10.55.781%3.37.83.4$16,3619.4322.522%725705
26.Economics, Michigan State University10.25.964%3.112.23.1$11,00611.8442.076%585555
27.Human Resources and Industrial Relations, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities9.35.897%2.4*6.3*2.6*$12,80514.627*3.1*70%630600
28.Economics, University of Virginia-Main Campus8.65.988%3.36.23.2$13,4056.4262.638%670655
29.Economics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus8.15.772%3.214.73.2$12,62611.6244.767%610590
30.Economics, Boston University7.96.384%2.817.33.4$17,23710.8363.155%655645
31.Economics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus6.85.278%2.65.02.5$13,8129.2422.758%610580
31.Energy, Environmental and Min. Economics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus6.85.278%2.65.02.5$13,8129.2422.758%610580
33.Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill6.46.175%3.23.53.2$13,2887.6333.036%650640
34.Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign6.16.188%2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,71414.427*3.1*68%675615
35.Agricultural & Applied Econ - AAEC, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University6.05.282%2.4*6.3*2.6*$10,9605.627*3.1*72%615585
36.Economics - ECAS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University5.75.282%2.4*6.3*2.6*$10,9605.027*3.1*72%615585
36.Economics, Agriculture - ECAG, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University5.75.282%2.4*6.3*2.6*$10,9605.027*3.1*72%615585
38.Economics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh5.55.880%2.45.82.6$12,3578.0362.759%615580
39.Economics, Western Michigan University5.14.276%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$12,1642.627*3.1*85%627*609*
40.Economics, Boston College4.95.788%2.52.92.5$14,2668.6213.631%680655
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
41.Economics, Washington University in St Louis4.55.988%2.83.83.0$16,9386.4223.119%730710
42.Economics, Brandeis University3.94.770%2.4*6.3*2.6*$15,3164.227*3.1*40%675675
43.Economics/Economic Development, Vanderbilt University3.75.780%2.514.62.4$17,0566.4212.935%695675
44.Economics, Indiana University-Bloomington3.46.091%2.74.82.5$13,21610.6292.385%560550
45.Economics, The University of Texas at Austin3.35.986%2.72.32.9$18,42612.0401.751%630605
45.Economics, University of California-San Diego3.35.090%3.819.03.8$26,9319.2302.039%655605
47.Economics, Rice University3.25.777%2.210.52.5$15,5064.8152.625%725710
48.Economics, Oregon State University3.14.7100%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$12,8591.427*3.1*90%550530
49.Economics, Carnegie Mellon University3.05.488%2.4*6.3*2.6*$15,6050.627*3.1*39%720660
50.Economics, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus2.85.681%2.74.82.8$14,9475.0292.049%625610
51.Economics, University of Arizona2.65.395%2.45.22.8$12,8635.2191.888%565560
52.Economics, Ohio State University-Main Campus2.45.782%2.72.92.8$15,07210.2352.973%580560
53.Economics, Cornell University-Ny State Statutory Colleges2.05.8*77%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,177*1.627*3.1*30%680665
53.Economics, University of Southern Mississippi2.05.8*76%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$9,859*2.427*3.1*37%520525
55.Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia1.93.277%0.91.11.0$12,2689.4142.683%595600
56.Economics, University of Southern California1.65.973%2.69.32.7$16,5725.8233.327%690665
57.Economics, Kansas State University1.35.655%2.4*6.3*2.6*$11,6594.827*3.1*48%627*609*
58.Economics, Stony Brook University1.15.275%2.62.92.7$12,3704.6183.951%610570
59.Economics, Emory University0.85.776%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$16,2962.827*3.1*39%700680
60.Economics (Incl Agricultural Economics), Iowa State University0.75.259%2.93.02.8$17,9197.0571.590%620595
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
60.Industrial Relations, Iowa State University0.75.259%2.93.02.8$17,9197.0571.590%620595
60.Economics, Texas A & M University0.75.272%2.74.52.8$16,67210.6273.470%615585
63.Economics, Johns Hopkins University0.16.789%3.02.52.9$16,00510.0116.435%705680
64.Economics, University of Delaware-0.86.560%2.4*6.3*2.6*$11,6915.227*3.1*47%610595
65.Economics, Florida State University-1.15.282%1.94.12.0$14,9293.2301.362%585575
65.Economics (Master's and PhD), George Mason University-1.15.865%2.17.22.5$14,51217.4227.569%560545
67.Economics, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway-1.76.175%2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,9825.627*3.1*61%615580
67.Industrial Relations & Human Resources, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway-1.76.175%2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,9825.627*3.1*61%615580
67.Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder-1.75.777%2.64.72.3$16,0358.6282.588%600580
70.Economics, Middle Tennessee State University-1.86.983%2.4*6.3*2.6*$10,7942.027*3.1*71%555545
71.Economics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee-1.94.967%1.31.61.2$12,1826.8231.289%627*609*
72.Economics - ECON, University of Kentucky-2.06.289%1.96.61.9$12,0084.0192.479%575565
73.Economics, Purdue University-Main Campus-2.45.567%2.72.52.4$12,0566.8163.785%590555
74.Economics, University of Florida-2.54.738%2.64.62.7$14,4263.6211.057%640620
75.Economics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus-2.64.988%1.83.61.9$13,2162.0181.291%560550
76.Economics, University of Oregon-2.75.086%1.62.02.0$13,2844.2191.691%560555
77.Economics and Econometrics, University of Notre Dame-2.96.381%1.51.01.5$14,9925.4243.832%700685
78.Economics, Wayne State University-3.37.575%2.4*6.3*2.6*$12,6433.827*3.1*63%627*609*
79.Economics, Georgetown University-3.85.869%1.92.72.3$18,0328.2153.721%695695
80.Economics, Texas Tech University-4.14.962%2.4*6.3*2.6*$15,9723.227*3.1*71%575555
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
80.Economics, University of New Mexico-Main Campus-4.16.773%2.4*6.3*2.6*$12,2643.627*3.1*74%535540
82.Economics, University of California-Irvine-4.95.079%2.4*6.3*2.6*$22,0656.827*3.1*52%620580
83.Economics, Syracuse University-5.35.167%2.12.92.2$17,6574.4261.665%620595
84.Economics, Georgia State University-5.46.270%1.71.31.8$12,6365.2251.356%550540
85.Economics, SUNY at Buffalo-5.55.664%1.91.72.1$11,9591.4162.356%595565
86.Economics (School of Economic Sciences), Washington State University-5.73.963%1.51.81.4$13,8542.8193.174%560545
87.Economics, University of Kansas Main Campus-6.05.746%1.73.71.7$11,5333.8181.769%627*609*
88.Economics, Kent State University-Kent Campus-6.35.8*76%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,099*0.827*3.1*94%515515
89.Economics, University of Iowa-6.95.2100%2.96.93.0$24,2444.6203.084%600585
90.Economics, Florida International University-7.04.958%2.4*6.3*2.6*$17,5811.827*3.1*61%550555
91.Economics, SUNY at Binghamton-7.46.347%1.90.41.9$12,0933.2203.043%650615
91.Economics, Southern Methodist University-7.45.778%1.84.42.0$17,6241.8160.258%620610
93.Economics, Colorado State University-7.55.688%0.51.30.8$11,9956.4144.188%565555
94.Economics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center-7.75.177%2.33.32.3$21,743*7.4224.957%*627*609*
95.Economics, University of Houston-7.85.974%2.01.22.1$15,2525.2252.281%550520
96.Economics, SUNY at Albany-8.16.575%1.40.71.7$12,5953.4202.956%575555
97.Economics, Clark University-9.35.758%0.40.60.6$11,3734.8110.362%595610
98.Economics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst-9.68.284%2.62.92.4$17,6459.2281.780%575565
99.Economics, University of California-Santa Barbara-9.86.088%2.52.62.4$24,0346.4271.753%600580
99.Economics, University of Connecticut-9.86.973%1.32.71.4$14,7907.6225.451%600585
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
99.Economics, University of Utah-9.87.271%1.00.81.2$11,6405.0202.786%627*609*
102.Business and Economics, Catholic University of America-10.25.8*76%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$19,651*0.627*3.1*82%565580
102.Economics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus-10.25.588%0.60.00.7$14,1351.0150.972%570560
104.Economics, University of Nebraska at Lincoln-10.56.259%0.51.91.2$11,6442.4202.175%605595
105.Labor Relations and Human Resources, University of Rhode Island-11.37.255%2.4*6.3*2.6*$14,3212.427*3.1*79%550535
106.Economics, Saint Louis University-Main Campus-11.65.8*76%*2.4*6.3*2.6*$22,081*0.627*3.1*76%610600
106.Economics, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus-11.66.747%2.4*6.3*2.6*$17,2043.227*3.1*86%627*609*
108.Economics, University of Illinois at Chicago-11.96.764%1.43.91.7$15,4763.2182.058%605570
109.Economics, University of South Carolina-Columbia-14.27.773%1.54.51.9$15,8262.6171.467%580570
110.Economics, American University-14.36.764%1.51.01.7$21,60111.0224.451%625645
110.Ecological Economics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute-14.34.753%0.81.10.7$16,8781.482.478%685635
110.Economics, Southern Illinois University Carbondale-14.37.260%1.32.81.7$11,6364.8134.277%520520
113.Economics, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College-15.55.356%1.75.21.5$21,5102.0230.978%600575
114.Economics, University of California-Davis-15.66.177%2.35.12.8$28,0437.4242.355%615565
115.Economics, University of California-Riverside-16.15.770%1.32.21.7$23,0836.4301.874%565510
116.Economics, Temple University-16.58.076%*0.91.71.1$15,9391.8321.363%550540
117.Economics, University of Hawaii at Manoa-16.68.060%1.01.71.4$14,0225.0222.565%570535
118.Applied Economics and Finance, University of California-Santa Cruz-18.65.767%2.4*6.3*2.6*$29,0335.227*3.1*69%585580
118.International Economics, University of California-Santa Cruz-18.65.767%2.4*6.3*2.6*$29,0335.227*3.1*69%585580
120.Economics, Fordham University-18.77.059%0.90.80.9$16,4537.2169.150%590600
Rank
 
Department
 
Yrs
(-3)
Job
(2)
UG Acc
(-1)
Adjust your weights →-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
121.Economics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus-19.05.967%0.80.10.9$17,5471.4101.677%565545
122.Economics, Howard University-19.68.250%0.60.50.8$11,1402.8134.147%565560
123.Economics, Utah State University-21.99.760%0.80.70.6$9,7472.6131.592%555550
124.Economics, George Washington University-23.18.769%1.81.11.8$25,6926.8263.238%640640
125.Economics, Northern Illinois University-23.610.978%*0.70.81.0$12,754*2.0261.770%538520
126.Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines-26.45.278%0.71.00.7$29,2863.092.085%645600
126.Economics, Northeastern University-26.47.070%0.10.70.5$22,7322.0103.447%625605
128.Economics, The New School-28.17.768%2.4*6.3*2.6*$34,1308.427*3.1*51%560565
129.Economics, Claremont Graduate University-34.15.074%1.92.32.0$36,131*9.0318.757%*627*609*

Item Descriptions

Your Score
Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.
Years to Degree (Yrs)
Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)
Placement Rate (Job)
Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)
Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)
Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)
The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)
Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)
Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an out of state student living on campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)
Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)
The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = 3. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)
Number of Faculty (# Fac)
Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)
The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)
Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)
The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Math SAT Score (SAT-M)
The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)
The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)
Missing Values
Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education StatisticsLearn more
National Research Council
The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more
Survey of Earned Doctorates
The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more
Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering
The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science FoundationLearn more
* Value is missing. The value shown is based on the average for other programs in the same field. Learn more.
Data are for all Economics degree recipients from the institution and may include graduates from more than one program.
The graduate school rankings on PhDs.org have been made possible by
grants from The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and The Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
The Center for Science and the Media served as the project's fiscal sponsor.