Best institutions to study International Economics
A program that focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy.
18 U.S. institutions graduated 204 International Economics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 45.0605, a specialization of Economics (CIP 45.06), and leads most directly to the Economists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3011).
About International Economics programs
A program that focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy. Includes instruction in international trade theory, tariffs and quotas, commercial policy, trade factor flows, international finance and investment, currency regulation and trade exchange rates and markets, international trade negotiation, and international payments and accounting policy.
See also: 52.0806 - International Finance., 52.1101 - International Business/Trade/Commerce., 52.1403 - International Marketing., 30.4001 - Economics and Foreign Language/Literature.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The International Economics program focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy. It is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of global trade, finance, and economic interactions between countries. This program is part of the broader field of Economics and prepares graduates for various roles in the global economy.
Students will gain core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and economic analysis. Coursework covers international trade theory, tariffs, commercial policy, and international finance, equipping students with the knowledge needed to analyze and interpret economic data and trends.
Credentials awarded
What International Economics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree169 graduates / yr · 13 institutions83%
- Master's degree33 graduates / yr · 3 institutions16%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
International Economics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 474 |
| 2013 | 462 |
| 2014 | 460 |
| 2015 | 449 |
| 2016 | 423 |
| 2017 | 296 |
| 2018 | 441 |
| 2019 | 357 |
| 2020 | 328 |
| 2021 | 325 |
| 2022 | 297 |
| 2023 | 383 |
| 2024 | 277 |
| 2025 | 204 |
Top 18 institutions for International 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 earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KSPublicBachelor's | 121 | 48% | — | $50,690 |
| 2 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 76% | $29,726 | — |
| 3 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 75% | — | $50,518 |
| 4 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster's | 12 | 86% | — | $51,192 |
| 5 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 84% | $29,789 | $67,684 |
| 6 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor's | 6 | 69% | — | $44,292 |
| 7 | Salve Regina University Newport, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 77% | $31,899 | — |
| 8 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 86% | $25,823 | $54,462 |
| 9 | Austin College Sherman, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 67% | $23,152 | $33,957 |
| 10 | Carthage College Kenosha, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 64% | $22,844 | $36,493 |
| 11 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 53% | — | $40,598 |
| 12 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 43% | — | $39,899 |
| 13 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 76% | $28,888 | $60,323 |
| 14 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 61% | $21,042 | $64,916 |
| 15 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | $30,225 | $58,151 |
| 16 | University of Idaho Moscow, IDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 57% | — | — |
| 17 | Emmanuel College Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 68% | $29,723 | $51,698 |
| 18 | Rhodes College Memphis, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 85% | $19,854 | $57,814 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Economics field (CIP 45.06) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 12 states
Where International Economics graduates come from. Each state links to all Economics programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 1 | 121 | Fort Hays State University121 / yr |
| California | 2 | 25 | University of California - Santa Cruz13 / yr |
| Texas | 3 | 15 | Texas Tech University6 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 15 | University of Denver15 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 2 | 7 | George Washington University6 / yr |
| Georgia | 2 | 5 | Georgia State University3 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 5 | Salve Regina University5 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 4 | University of St Thomas2 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 4 | Carthage College4 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 | University of Idaho1 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 1 | Emmanuel College1 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1 | Rhodes College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3011, Economists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the International Economics program can pursue careers as economists, managers, or postsecondary economics teachers. With an annual growth rate of 1.2% and approximately 900 job openings each year, the median wage for economists is $115,440, typically requiring a master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 45.0605
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 |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 | $123,920 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,200 | Doctoral or professional 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 International 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
Other Economics specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Economics (CIP 45.06).
- Econometrics and Quantitative EconomicsCIP 45.060322,866 graduates / yr320 institutions
- EconomicsCIP 45.060119,798 graduates / yr638 institutions
- Development Economics and International DevelopmentCIP 45.0604384 graduates / yr42 institutions
- Applied EconomicsCIP 45.0602378 graduates / yr28 institutions
- EconomicsCIP 45.0699143 graduates / yr24 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and economic analysis.
What careers are available after graduation?+
You can work as an economist, manager, or economics teacher.
What is the job outlook for economists?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with 900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for International Economics?+
International Economics is CIP 45.0605 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Economics (CIP 45.06). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the systematic study and analysis of international commercial behavior and trade policy. Includes instruction in international trade theory, tariffs and quotas, commercial policy, trade factor flows, international finance and investment, currency regulation and trade exchange rates and markets, international trade negotiation, and international payments and accounting policy.
How many institutions offer International Economics programs?+
18 U.S. institutions reported International Economics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 12 states, awarding 204 credentials in the year. That is 0.5% of all Economics graduates.
How much do International Economics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Economists occupation, which International Economics most directly leads to, pays a median of $124,720 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Economics field report median earnings of $51,192 one year after graduation (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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card