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415 Best Economics & Public Policy Universities in the United States

Cornell University leads the 415 Economics & Public Policy universities in the United States at #13 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by University of Chicago (QS World #13) and Columbia University (QS World #14). Across the whole list there are 679 courses to choose from.

415 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
348Ranked
AP American Public University System logo
#1,347 in United States United States
#1,347 in United States · by research impact
12,244 citations · h-index 46
353Ranked
SA Santa Ana College logo
#1,418 in United States United States

Santa Ana College

Public University · 1 course in Economics & Public Policy

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#1,418 in United States · by research impact
9,487 citations · h-index 52
355Ranked
MS Missouri Southern State University logo
#1,434 in United States Joplin, Missouri, United States

Missouri Southern State University

Public University · 3 courses in Economics & Public Policy

USD 17,080/yrTuition (indicative)
Founded
3,019Students
International
Admissions open
#1,434 in United States · by research impact
9,077 citations · h-index 40

Related subjects

How these universities are ranked

43 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (Cornell University) to #548 (Lehigh University); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Washington has the largest research record in this group, with 98,078,141 citations and an h-index of 3,639. 9 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 408 public to 7 private institutions. By location, New York (6), Connecticut (2) and Minnesota (2) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Yale University, founded in 1701. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 480 bachelor's, 74 master's, 17 phd / doctorate and 15 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Economics & Public Policy (653), Economics (19), Public Policy (5) and Applied Economics (2). The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 95% are full-time and 24 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (96% of courses with a stated intake). Institute for World Politics offers the widest choice, with 14 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 23 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and Columbia University the most at USD 66,000; the middle of the range is about USD 36,056. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Economics & Public Policy in the United States?

Cornell University (QS World #13), University of Chicago (QS World #13) and Columbia University (QS World #14) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Economics & Public Policy in the United States?

Of those with published fees, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at about USD 5,274 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Economics & Public Policy in the United States?

408 public and 7 private universities are on this list.

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

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

When do Economics & Public Policy 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 & Public Policy online with a university in the United States?

24 of these courses are listed as online.

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