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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in economics but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in economics programs.

What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.

1. John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

This degree program has a dual path, leading to a master of business administration and a master of science in applied economics. Learners who work full-time can finish this degree program in three years. A total of 31 classes are required, including the following:

• Microeconomic Theory
• Macroeconometrics
• Accounting and Financial Reporting
• Business Leadership and Human Values

2. Duke University, Durham, NC

Duke’s 30-credit degree program leads to a master of arts in economics. A minimum of 15 hours must be earned in economics classes. In addition to this core coursework, learners often enroll in master’s- and doctoral-level classes in related departments.

3. Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Washington University in St. Louis enables learners to earn an MA in economics with 36 credit hours of graduate-level coursework. However, this is not a terminal master’s degree program. Learners earn the MA en route to a PhD in economics. Requirements for the master’s degree include the study of macroeconomics, microeconomics, quantitative methods in economics, and applied econometrics.

4. NYU, New York, NY

The master of arts in economics can completed in as little as three semesters of full-time study. This program offers a strong foundation in advanced economic theory and is designed to help learners elevate their skills in economic analysis and public policy. The curriculum includes a minimum of 32 credit hours, including a written special project report. Core requirements for the degree consist of the following classes: mathematics for economists, microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and applied statistics and econometrics.

5. Boston University, Boston, MA

The master of arts in economics requires 32 credit hours to be earned through eight classes. Four of these classes are core classes. The remaining four classes can be earned from a wide range of electives, which are designed to develop specialized knowledge in specific areas of economics.

6. UC-San Diego, San Diego, CA

The University of California San Diego’s graduate degree program in economics is versatile and intensive; it enables learners to pursue concentrations in fields like econometrics, labor, international trade, and more. UC San Diego has a master of arts in economics, which requires 36 credit hours in upper-division undergraduate or PhD-level economics classes. At least 24 credit hours must be obtained in the core first-year PhD sequence; learners also select from numerous electives.

7. Tufts University, Medford, MA

Tufts has a master of science in economics. This degree requires six core classes and two elective classes. The core classes consist of three two-semester sequences in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. The two elective classes may be selected from the following:

• State and Local Public Finance
• Resource and Environmental Economics and Policy
• Income Inequality, Poverty, and Economic Justice
• Advertising and Imperfect Competition

8. University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

The master of arts in economics degree requires a minimum of 32 credit hours. This degree program begins during the fall semester, and learners will finish the course sequence by the end of the following summer term.

9. University of Maryland-College Park, College Park, MD

The coursework for the master of professional studies in applied economics degree program can be finished in as little as 15 months. However, learners are welcome to take a longer path toward graduation if they wish. The degree requires ten classes, including five core classes. Learners may take classes such as: economics of health care; information, game theory, and market design; international macroeconomics and finance; and applied time series analysis and forecasting.

10. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

Candidates for the MS in economics take core coursework, two economics electives, and four economics or non-economics electives. Options for elective classes include management of financial institutions; money and capital markets; innovation and entrepreneur behavior; and science, technology, and public policy.

11. University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

This degree program is available via three distinct pathways. Regardless of how long learners take to finish the degree program, the curriculum requires ten classes for a total of 30 credit hours. No thesis is required for the degree.

12. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL

This pioneering, versatile degree program leads to a master of science in policy economics. The degree has a wide range of concentration options. Depending on their chosen concentration, learners in this degree program take classes such as development and growth policy, government regulation of economic activity, economics of innovation and technology, and public goods theory.

13. University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

OU’s MA degree program in economics is offered both on campus and entirely online. This is an accelerated degree program designed to accommodate the schedules of working adults. The degree program requires 32 credit hours, which may be earned through coursework such as contemporary economic methods and analysis, research in economic problems, economics as a social science, and international trade theory.

14. University of Delaware, Newark, DE

The master of arts in economics was created for flexibility. Learners will take required coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometric theory. Beyond this, candidates have the option of specializing in areas such as agricultural economics, energy policy, experimental economics, urban affairs, and more. Elective coursework for this degree may consist of economic analysis for business policy, econometrics of cross-section and panel data, international trade and development, and contemporary issues for economic educators.

15. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

At Texas A&M, learners can earn a master of science in economics through a three- or four-semester path. This degree program has a concentration in either financial economics or financial econometrics. A total of 36 credit hours is required to earn this degree. Learners can customize their academic path with elective classes such as economics of the multinational firm, decisions under risk and uncertainty, econometric analysis of financial data, and accounting concepts and procedures.