Best colleges for Business/Managerial Economics
A program that focuses on the application of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises.
194 U.S. institutions graduated 3,971 Business/Managerial Economics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0601, a specialization of Business/Managerial Economics (CIP 52.06), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About Business/Managerial Economics programs
A program that focuses on the application of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises. Includes instruction in monetary theory, banking and financial systems, theory of competition, pricing theory, wage and salary/incentive theory, analysis of markets, and applications of econometrics and quantitative methods to the study of particular businesses and business problems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Business/Managerial Economics program focuses on applying economic principles to analyze business operations and organizations. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the economic factors influencing business decisions and market behavior. It prepares graduates for a variety of roles in the business sector, emphasizing analytical and quantitative skills essential for success in today's economy.
Students in this program will gain core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and data analysis. Coursework typically includes topics such as monetary theory, pricing theory, and market analysis, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to tackle complex business problems using econometrics and quantitative methods.
Credentials awarded
What Business/Managerial Economics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree3,749 graduates / yr · 184 institutions94%
- Associate's degree67 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.7%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year46 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.2%
- Master's degree33 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.8%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years29 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate28 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship19 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
Graduates over time
Business/Managerial Economics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5,722 |
| 2013 | 5,349 |
| 2014 | 5,330 |
| 2015 | 5,532 |
| 2016 | 5,700 |
| 2017 | 5,964 |
| 2018 | 5,989 |
| 2019 | 5,650 |
| 2020 | 5,526 |
| 2021 | 5,016 |
| 2022 | 4,587 |
| 2023 | 4,456 |
| 2024 | 4,187 |
| 2025 | 3,971 |
Top 50 institutions for Business/Managerial Economics, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 361 | 87% | — | $44,277 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 258 | 75% | — | $52,029 |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 183 | 90% | — | $53,094 |
| 4 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NYPublicBachelor's | 132 | 68% | — | $40,517 |
| 5 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicBachelor's | 103 | 62% | — | $45,123 |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor's | 76 | 85% | — | $60,369 |
| 7 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 74 | 61% | — | $51,329 |
| 8 | Ohio State University Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 74 | 88% | — | $61,979 |
| 9 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 71 | 72% | — | $57,909 |
| 10 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAssociate's | 67 | 46% | — | $58,072 |
| 11 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 66 | 81% | $13,712 | $75,227 |
| 12 | Westmont College Santa Barbara, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 65 | 70% | $28,035 | $54,457 |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicBachelor's | 65 | 69% | — | $43,826 |
| 14 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 62 | 62% | $21,034 | $52,087 |
| 15 | Wheaton College Wheaton, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 61 | 85% | $23,461 | $55,300 |
| 16 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 55 | 53% | — | $49,368 |
| 17 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OHPublicBachelor's | 52 | 80% | — | $60,596 |
| 18 | Colorado College Colorado Springs, COPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 47 | 88% | $23,510 | — |
| 19 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TXPublicBachelor's | 47 | 53% | — | $44,424 |
| 20 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 46 | 69% | — | $38,967 |
| 21 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 46 | 88% | $26,912 | $81,796 |
| 22 | Chapman University Orange, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 45 | 82% | $42,965 | $54,064 |
| 23 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TNPublicBachelor's | 45 | 74% | — | $44,025 |
| 24 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor's | 43 | 71% | — | $51,081 |
| 25 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 39 | 68% | — | $56,114 |
| 26 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor's | 39 | 78% | — | $47,648 |
| 27 | University of Dayton Dayton, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 80% | $28,560 | $55,871 |
| 28 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WVPublicBachelor's | 37 | 65% | — | — |
| 29 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 36 | 79% | — | $62,692 |
| 30 | Wofford College Spartanburg, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 33 | 84% | $24,459 | $48,055 |
| 31 | Bentley University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 32 | 87% | $31,677 | $68,627 |
| 32 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 31 | 73% | $33,454 | $61,333 |
| 33 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 31 | 94% | $14,126 | $106,701 |
| 34 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicBachelor's | 31 | 75% | — | — |
| 35 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 69% | — | $42,491 |
| 36 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 37 | Allegheny College Meadville, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 29 | 73% | $18,524 | — |
| 38 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicBachelor's | 28 | 71% | — | $54,471 |
| 39 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FLPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 28 | 84% | $26,589 | $63,662 |
| 40 | Greensboro College Greensboro, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 46% | $19,549 | $42,816 |
| 41 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicBachelor's | 27 | 54% | — | $53,984 |
| 42 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor's | 26 | 75% | — | $55,460 |
| 43 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor's | 26 | 61% | — | $54,058 |
| 44 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 26 | 63% | — | $45,370 |
| 45 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicBachelor's | 25 | 67% | — | $53,536 |
| 46 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 25 | 80% | $24,886 | $49,314 |
| 47 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor's | 25 | 55% | — | $49,831 |
| 48 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 88% | $44,094 | — |
| 49 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 68% | $28,141 | $53,682 |
| 50 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor's | 24 | 68% | — | $40,413 |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Business/Managerial Economics field (CIP 52.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 41 states & territories
Where Business/Managerial Economics graduates come from. Each state links to all Business/Managerial Economics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Business/Managerial Economics program can pursue careers as economists, management analysts, and financial risk specialists, among others. The job outlook shows little to no change, with an estimated 900 annual openings and a median wage of $115,440, typically requiring a master's degree for advanced positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0601
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Economistsprimary SOC 19-3011 | $124,720 | +1.2% Little or no change | ~900 | Master's degree |
Management Analysts SOC 13-1111 | $101,860 | +8.8% Much faster than average | ~98,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Financial Risk Specialists SOC 13-2054 | $117,330 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Survey Researchers SOC 19-3022 | $69,460 | -5.2% Decline | ~700 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Business/Managerial Economics programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Associate's degree, or a Master's degree in Business/Managerial Economics.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, data analysis, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an economist, management analyst, or financial risk specialist, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is stable, with an annual growth rate of 1.2% and approximately 900 openings each year.
What is the CIP code for Business/Managerial Economics?+
Business/Managerial Economics is CIP 52.0601 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Business/Managerial Economics (CIP 52.06). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the application of economics principles to the analysis of the organization and operation of business enterprises. Includes instruction in monetary theory, banking and financial systems, theory of competition, pricing theory, wage and salary/incentive theory, analysis of markets, and applications of econometrics and quantitative methods to the study of particular businesses and business problems.
How many institutions offer Business/Managerial Economics programs?+
194 U.S. institutions reported Business/Managerial Economics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 41 states & territories, awarding 3,971 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Business/Managerial Economics graduates.
How much do Business/Managerial Economics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which Business/Managerial Economics most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Business/Managerial Economics field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $52,087, College Scorecard.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Business/Managerial Economics graduates, so its figures match the Business/Managerial Economics program page.
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