Those students with a strong interest in earning a bachelor’s degree in economics have the option of studying in a traditional on-campus classroom or studying for one of the best online economics degrees available. It is noted that some of the best online economics programs are offered by some of the most elite institutions of higher learning – even ivy league schools. While there are many advantages to an on-campus program, for working adults and professionals, an online program can be the best choice.
An online program works around your schedule so that you can continue working and keeping up with personal obligations. The degree program allows you to work at your own pace, which means you are able to work on course materials when you have time and you can work from any location. If you have a laptop computer or a smartphone, then you can access class materials from any location with an Internet connection. Online programs ensure that you are able to focus on your course material without wasting time or losing interest in the topics discussed in the classroom.
Methodology: Ranking the Best Online Economics Degrees
Online programs have become a standard way for working adults to enhance their careers, but the field is crowded and complicated. Bachelor’s Degree Center simplifies the whole process by focusing only on accredited, trustworthy bachelor economics online programs ranked by real factors: Tuition Cost, Student Satisfaction, and Salary Potential, using data from IPEDS, Niche, and College Scorecard.
1. Utah State University
Utah State University offers two of the best online economics degree programs as either a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Each of Utah State University’s best online economics degrees has been recognized among the best online bachelor’s and veteran’s programs by US News. USU’s economic degree programs emphasize four concentrations – Pre-law Economics, International Economics & Trade, Managerial Economics, and Economic Theory. USU accepts transfer credits that have been approved by the school’s advisors.
Utah State University was established in 1888. USU is a land grant and space-grant institution of higher with a dedication to research. Utah State University’s suburban Logan campus covers more than 400 acres and serves nearly 28,000 students.
Highlight: Utah State University operates regionals campuses and more than 20 distance learning centers through the state of Utah, reflecting nearly 62% of the total student enrollment.
Degree: BA or BS in Economics
Utah State University BA or BS in Economics
2. SUNY Empire State College
The State of New York (SUNY) Empire State College offers a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Business, Management, and Economics that can be completed entirely online. This best online economics degree program requires the completion of 124 credit units to graduate. SUNY Empire State College’s best online economics degrees are taught by the same faculty that teaches on-campus. Additionally, SUNY EPS offers potential credit for previous college credits or work experience. Students graduate with sufficient preparation to enter the workforce in the fields of finance, economics, human resources, or public administration, to name a few.
The State of New York (SUNY) Empire State College was established in 1971. Empire State College is a member school of the SUNY university system with the largest student online student enrollment of all other member schools. More than 10,000 students are enrolled in Empire State College — on-campus and online.
Highlight: Empire State College is the only open-admissions school within the State of New York University system.
Degree: BPS in Business, Management, and Economics
Empire State College BPS in Business, Management, and Economics
3. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers one of the best online economics degree programs in the nation. U of A’s Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry requires the completion of 121 credit units, a recommended internship, and a senior culminating capstone course. The University of Arizona’s best online economics degrees offer students a diverse, comprehensive general education that concentrates in the areas of the economy and industry. Students graduate with an understanding of the concepts of finance, planning, promotion, and business ethics.
The University of Arizona is a research university that was established in 1885. U of A is organized into 19 colleges/schools, with nearly 46,000 students studying on the school’s 375+-acre campus in Tucson. Nearly 70% of U of A’s students come from within the state of Arizona.
Highlight: The University of Arizona admission rate makes the school a selective university, according to US News.
Degree: BGS in Economy and Industry
University of Arizona BGS in Economy and Industry
4. Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University offers a BBA in Applied Economics & Finance that is recognized among the best online economics degrees available in the country. Graduates from ENMU’s best online economics degree program enter the workforce in the areas of law, government, international relations, academia, and medicine, to name a few. ENMU’s BBA economics program offers several emphases – Financial Planning, Marketing, Hospitality, Business, Information Systems, and Applied Economics.
Eastern New Mexico University was established in 1927. ENMU’s main campus in Portales covers more than 400 acres and serves more than 6,000 students. The school has satellite branches in Roswell and Ruidoso, NM.
Highlight: Eastern New Mexico University is the state’s most comprehensive and largest regional university and has been designated a Hispanic-serving institution of higher learning.
Degree: BBA in Applied Economics and Finance
5. North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina A&T State University offers a BS in Economics degree program that is available 100% online. NC A&T Online’s best online economics degree program prepares graduates to be analytical and critical thinkers. Students graduates from North Carolina A&T State University’s best online economics degrees find rewarding work as Economic Consultants, Business Reporters, Small Business Owners, Data Analysts, and Market Researchers, to name just a few. Coursework for this BS economics degree program includes ten economics classes, plus electives from the areas of Global Awareness, History, African American Culture, or Scientific Reasoning.
North Carolina A&T State University was established in 1891 under the Morrill Land Grant Act. NC A&T is a member campus of the University of North Carolina system and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. NC A&T’s campus covers more than 200 urban acres and serves more than 12,000 students.
Highlight: North Carolina A&T State University is the state’s largest historically black university (HBCU).
Degree: BS in Economics
orth Carolina A&T State University offers a BS in Economics
6. Eastern Oregon University
Eastern Oregon University’s distance learning platform offers two of the best online economics degrees available in the country. These include the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in Economics and the Bachelor of Science degree program in Economics. Graduates from EOU’s best online economics degree programs work in the management, government, nonprofit, or law sectors of the economy, among others. Each economics degree program requires degree candidates to complete 180 credit units to graduate over a 4‑year period. EOU has been recognized among the most affordable online colleges by SR Education.
Eastern Oregon University was established in 1929 and is one of only seven state-funded institutions of higher learning in Oregon. EOU’s campus is situated in the Blue Mountain Range and home to more than 3,700 students vying for academic degrees offered by the school’s four schools/colleges.
Highlight: In 2011, EOU granted a degree to a 99-year-old Leo Plass, which set a world record.
Degree: BA or BS in Economics
Eastern Oregon University BA or BS in Economics
7. University of Utah
The University of Utah offers one of the best online economics degrees available. U of U’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics requires the completion of 122 credit hours, of which 36 credit hours must include economics courses and 12 credit units of allied credit. Students graduating from the University of Utah’s best online economics degree program find rewarding careers in both the nonprofit and profit sectors or the areas of finance or banking, among others.
The University of Utah was established in 1850. The school is a member school of the Utah System of Higher education. U of U’s urban campus covers more than 1,500 acres and is home to nearly 33,000 students studying from the school’s 190+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Highlight: The University of Utah is the flagship school for the state of Utah and the oldest university in the state.
Degree: BS in Economics
University of Utah BS in Economics
8. CSU Global
CSU Global offers a BA in Economics that can be completed entirely online. CSU Global’s Economics BA program is recognized among the best online economics degrees available. Students enrolled in CSU Global’s best online economics degree program are required to declare a minor from these areas – Agriculture, Anthropology, Business, Gerontology, Environmental Sustainability, Media, Political Science, and Sociology. Degree candidates must complete 120 credit units to graduates, including classes in Micro and Macroeconomics, Calculus, Econometrics, Economic History, Money and Banking, to name a few.
CSU Global was established in 2007. CSU Global is a member campus of the Colorado State University system. The school is headquartered in Aurora but only offers distance learning to its more than 18,500 students in Colorado and around the world.
Highlight: Colorado State Global Campus offers special education for adult learners and professionals.
Degree: BA in Economics
9. Florida International University
Florida International University’s Green School of International & Public Affairs offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree program in the field of Economics that is available entirely online. FIU’s best online economics degree program requires the completion of 120 credit units to graduate. FIU Online’s best online economics degrees are the perfect degrees for students interested in a career in the government, business, or a multinational organization. An economics degree is the perfect undergraduate degree for those who wish to study law, urban studies, or public administration at a graduate level.
Florida International University is a space-grant school that was established in 1965. FIU is a member campus of the State University System of Florida. The school’s 500+ acre campus in South Florida is home to nearly 59,000 students. US News recognizes FIU among the top 105 public institutions in the country.
Highlight: FIU is the only school Florida to receive the state’s legislature’s designation of emerging pre-eminence.
Degree: BA in Economics
Florida International University BA in Economics
10. Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University offers a BS in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program in International Business and Economics. Coursework for the FHSU best online economics degree program includes 36 credit hours of economics courses that include Micro and Macroeconomic Principles, Logic, Economic Ideas, Global Challenges, and Ethical Issues, to name a few. These best online economics degrees also require the completion of 27 credit hours within the business core curriculum – Accounting, Finance, Business Law, Marketing, Leadership, Operation, and Policy, among others.
Fort Hays State University was founded in 1902. The school is one of six (and the 3rd largest of) member schools that are overseen by the state’s Board of Regents. The school’s rural campus covers more than 200 acres and serves nearly 16,000 students.
Highlight: FHSU was originally founded as a satellite branch of the Kansas State Normal School.
Degree: BSBA in International Business and Economics
Fort Hays State University BSBA in International Business and Economics
11. Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers a BS in Economics that can be complete 100% through their distance learning platform. ASU Online’s best online economics degrees require the completion of 41 classes for a total of 120 credit hours. Students study both theoretical economics and learn how to apply the tools to help make sound financial decisions for government entities, businesses, and organizations. US News recognizes Arizona State University among the most innovative institutions of higher education in the country. Coursework for this best online economics degree program includes Micro and Macroeconomic Principles, Business Statistics, and Applied Regression Forecasting, to name a few.
Arizona State University was established in 1902. The school operates several campuses in the Tempe and Phoenix metropolitan areas. Nearly 40,000 students attend classes through Arizona State University’s distance learning platform.
Highlight: Arizona State University holds the distinction of having one of the country’s largest student enrollment sizes at nearly 90,000.
Degree: BS in Economics
Arizona State University BS in Economics
12. UNC Pembroke
The University of North Carolina, Pembroke offers a BS in Business Administration (BSBA) degree program in Economics that is available online and a few evening classes. UNC Pembroke’s BSBA Economics degree is recognized among the country’s best online economics degrees. Students enrolled in this best online economics degree program must complete at least half of the business major requirements at UNC Pembroke and a minimum of 18 credit hours, including Managerial Economics and intermediate Macroeconomics. UNC Pembroke students can opt for a minor in management, marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship, to name a few.
The University of North Carolina, Pembroke, was established in 1887 as a teacher training school. The school’s rural campus serves more than 7,500 students and is home to buildings that are listed in the US National Register of Historic Places.
Highlight: The University of North Carolina at Pembroke’s history is interconnected with that of the Lumbee Tribe nation.
Degree: BSBA in Economics
13. West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University’s Engler College of Business/Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance offers a BBA — a Bachelor of Business Administration degree program with a concentration in Economics or a concentration in Law & Economics that is available entirely online. Each of WTAMU’s best online economics degree program requires the completion of 120 credit hours that includes 18 hours of advanced economics courses. West Texas A&M University’s best online economics degrees have received accreditation from the AACSB – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
West Texas A&M University was established in 1910. WTAMU’s campus is about 15 minutes south of Amarillo, TX, and home to more than 10,000 students. The school joined the Texas A&M University System in the early 1990s.
Highlight: The world-renowned artists, Georgia O’Keefe, considered the Mother of American Modernism, was the Art Department Chair from 1916 through 1918.
Degree: BBA in Economics
West Texas A&M University BBA in Economics
14. University of Wisconsin Whitewater
The University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s College of Business and Economics offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program in Economics that is available through their distance learning academic platform. Students enrolled in UW Whitewater’s best online economics degrees must complete 120 credit units to graduate. The University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s best online economics degree program boasts a graduate placement rate of 100%. Graduate find rewarding work as a Data Analyst, Statistical Analyst, and Business Analyst, to name a few.
The University of Wisconsin Whitewater was established in 1868. UW Whitewater is a member school of the University of Wisconsin System. The school’s rural campus is home to a student enrollment that exceeds 11,000 students, studying from the university’s more than 55 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Highlight: John Belushi, of international and Saturday Night Live fame, attended the University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Degree: BBA in Economics
University of Wisconsin Whitewater BBA in Economics
15. Oregon State University
Oregon State University’s Ecampus offers a Bachelor of Economics degree program that can be completed entirely online. Students enrolled in OSU’s best online economics degree program are required to complete 180 credit hours. Oregon State University offers four start dates per year. OSU’s best online economics degrees have been recognized among the best online undergraduate programs by US News. Graduates are prepared to enter the banking, retail, corporate, and consulting sectors, among others. Oregon State University is a military-friendly school.
Oregon State University was established in 1868 under the Morrill Land Grant Act. The university is also a sun-grant, space-grant, and sea-grant institution of higher education. The school’s college-town campus covers more than 400 acres and serves nearly 32,000 students.
Highlight: Oregon State University is one of only four universities that have attained all four federal grant designations.
Degree: Bachelor of Economics
Oregon State University Bachelor of Economics
Why Should I Choose an Online Degree in Economics?
Students interested in getting an economics degree online will learn the most advanced economic principles of the concept of Supply/Demand, and how these principles operate across a global economy. Additionally, core courses will teach students the business acumen, critical thinking, and decision-making skills required to make sound business decisions.
Online economics students will learn online courses like principles of microeconomics, basic and intermediate microeconomics, economic analysis, and history of economic thought. Elective courses in the liberal arts and social science bring more dimension to online learning.
If you have interest in a career in the fields of finance or international trade, a bachelor’s degree in economics is the perfect undergraduate degree to earn, as it prepares graduates for consulting, advisory and research jobs in the fields of –
- Healthcare
- Real Estate
- Finance
- Insurance
- Investment Banking
- Marketing
- Government
- Public Policy
- Economic Development
Graduates from the best bachelor of economics online find rewarding work as –
- Financial Analysts
- Economists
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Statisticians
Distance learning programs offer working learners and students more freedom in scheduling and greater flexibility. Additionally, students have the opportunity to learn at their own pace. Online economics degree programs are a great fit for busy parents, professionals, and working learners.
International students should look into admission requirements, financial aid, and degree requirements for an online bachelor’s degree program in the US.
What are the Jobs for an Economics Major?
There are a wide variety of career paths for those who hold an undergraduate degree in economics. These jobs for an economics major are found in many industries within the economy. Economics major jobs include –
Financial Analyst – there are many jobs with an economics major available, especially in the financial or government sector. Financial analyst jobs with an economics major for undergraduate degree holders have a 2018 median pay of $85,660
Management Consultant – there is a large variety of jobs for economics majors as a consultant to small, medium, and large corporations.
Market Research Analyst – there are various job options for economics majors with skills to evaluate market conditions for potential sales. Economics major jobs as market research analysts have a 2018 median pay of $63,120.
Urban Planner – urban planner jobs for economics majors require skillful planning of land use that allows for appropriate community growth.
Economic Educator – there are many career opportunities and jobs for an economics major in the academic community. The education sector proactively searches for candidates who can fill open jobs with an economics major. Jobs for economics majors in the education community have a 2018 median salary of $78,470.
Also, many other industries require the skills an economist brings to the table. Economists find rewarding work in the service, IT, and manufacturing industries, to name a few.
How Much Does an Economics Major Make?
If you have a serious interest in earning an online economics bachelor’s degree, you have likely asked yourself the following questions –
- How much do economics majors make?
- What is the average salary for an economics major?
It noted the most professional economists enter the profession with a master’s degree or Ph.D. However, some entry-level jobs—primarily in the federal government—are available for workers with a bachelor’s degree.
According to glassdoor.com, the average salary for economics majors who hold bachelor’s degrees can expect an average salary of around $62,000. Payscale.com denotes that the average salary of an economics major is approximately $72,000.
How much do economics majors make who hold a master’s degree in economics?
According to the US Federal Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Average Salary of an Economics Major who hold a master’s degree.
- Master’s Degree Economist – Annually: $ 104,340
- Master’s Degree Economist – Hourly: $ 50.16
The statistician at BLS anticipates the economic job market to grow at an 8% pace through the year 2028. The job market pace of 8% is faster than the average of all occupations in the US economy.
Related Rankings:
25 Best Bachelor’s in Economics
10 Fastest Online Bachelor’s in Economics