Here is a list of graduate programs in economics that potential students might want to consider. In the future, we will also include some programs in related departments (agriculture & natural resources, business schools, industrial & labor relations, etc.) Finance programs will be on a separate list. The categories of schools reflect the opinions of our faculty members; however there is not a consensus on this matter. Information on fields and GREs is self-reported.
SUNY Albany maintains a comprehensive list of all Ph.D. programs in North America.
How do GRE percentiles correspond to scores?
NOTE: If you are a graduate school representative and would like to have information changed or added, please contact econ@byu.edu.
| Program | Strongest Fields (Self-Reported) |
GRE* (Self-Reported) | Contact Person | US News** Ranking (1998) |
| Excellent in Most Fields | ||||
| Harvard | Most Fields | Q: 790, Subject Test: 820 (means) | Sarah K. Choi 617-495-8927 | 4.9 |
| MIT | Most Fields | 4.9 | ||
| Princeton | Most Fields | 790 (mean, esp. Q) | Jennifer Paslowski 609-258-4006 | 4.8 |
| Stanford | Most Fields | Q: 95%, A: 85% | Susie R. Madsen 650-725-6198 | 4.9 |
| Univ. of Chicago | Most Fields (esp., Money and Banking, Labor, Econometrics) | Q: 700-800 | Julie Less | 4.8 |
| Excellent in Some/Several Fields | ||||
| Columbia | 3.9 | |||
| Cornell | Econometrics, Micro/Game Theory, Monetary, Labor, Devlopment/Growth | Q: 670 (min), 760 (median) | Prof. Robert T. Masson 607-255-6288 Martha Harrison (BYU grad) Heather Wynder (BYU grad) |
3.8 |
| Michigan | Public Finance, International (Finance & Trade), Labor | Q: 770 (mean) | Mary Braun 734-764-2360 | 4.0 |
| Minnesota | Theoretical Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Industrial Organization | Q,A: 700+ | Matthew Kelly 612-625-6833 | 4.1 |
| Northwestern | 4.5 | |||
| Penn | Micro/Game Theory, Macroeconomics, Development/Labor | 730+ | Alison McGhie | 4.3 |
| Rochester | Applied Econ, Econometrics, International, Micro Theory, Macro | 700-800 | gradeco@troi.cc.rochester.edu | 3.9 |
| UC Berkeley | Econometrics, Public Finance, Labor | Q,A,V: 90% | Helga R. Northrop | 4.8 |
| UCLA | Industrial Organization, Labor, Macro | Q: 770, A: 700 | Lora Clarke 310-206-1413 | 4.0 |
| UC San Diego | Micro, Macro, Econometrics | 80% (min) | Tim Ryan 858-534-1867 fax: 858-534-9795 |
3.9 |
| Wisconsin | -- | Q: 94%, A: 87%, V: 63% (mean) | Graduate Program | 4.1 |
| Yale | 4.7 | |||
| Good General Programs | ||||
| Arizona State | 2.4 | |||
| Arizona | Experimental Economics, Economic History, Labor | Q: 90%, A,V: 85% | Prof. Price Fishback 520-621-4421 or Pam Schloss 520-621-2455 |
3.0 |
| Boston U | -- | 80% | Ms. Sylvia Holmes | 3.3 |
| Boston College | Applied Microeconometrics, Labor, Industrial Organization, Monetary Theory, International Trade | Q: 740 (mean) | Mrs. Mary Foley 617-552-3683. |
2.8 |
| Brown | Macroeconomics, Mathematical Econ, Growth | Q,A: 700+ | Prof. George Borts 401-863-2458 | 3.6 |
| Carnegie-Mellon | 3.7 | |||
| Claremont Graduate Univ | Business/Financial, International, Political Economy | 728Q, 634A, 551V (mean) | David Enriquez 909-621-8699 | 2.7 |
| Colorado (Boulder) | International Trade/Finance, Econometrics, Natural Resources/Environmental | Q: 742, A: 643, V: 504 (mean) | Georgiana Esquibel 303-492-6396 | 2.5 |
| CUNY | 2.3 | |||
| Duke | Advanced Theory, History of Political Economy, Financial Economics, International, Labor, Macroeconomics, Public Finance, Industrial Organization, Econometrics | Q, A, V: 90% (mean) | Anne Hobin 919-660-1847 | 3.7 |
| Emory | Econometrics, Law and Econ, International | varies | Mrs. Mildred Boddie | 2.3 |
| Florida | International Trade, Public Finance, and Industrial Organization | Q: 700+, V: varies | Prof. Steven Slutsky 352-392-8106 | 2.7 |
| George Mason | Public Finance, Law and Econ, Industrial Organization | Q: 600+, A: 600+, V: 500+ | Genny Flattery 703-993-1135 | 2.2 |
| Georgetown | International, Industrial Organization, Labor/Development | Q: 80% | Ms. Lori Baylor 202-687-6260 | 2.3 |
| Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) | Econometrics, Economic History, Public Finance | Q,A: 90% | 217-333-0120 or fax 217-44-6678 |
3.3 |
| Indiana (Bloomington) | 2.9 | |||
| Iowa | Econometrics, Monetary Theory, Labor | Q: 751, A: 722, V: 532 (mean) | Ms. Renea Jay | 3.1 |
| Iowa State | Agriculture, International Trade, Environment | Q+A+V: 1800+ | Grad Info Prof. Arne Hallam Danette Kenne 515-294-2702 |
2.7 |
| Johns Hopkins | Macro/monetary, Applied Micro, Economic Theory | Q,A: 93/94% (median) | Prof. Joseph Harrington | 3.6 |
| Maryland (College Park) | -- | -- | Office of Graduate Studies 301-405-3544 | 3.5 |
| Michigan State | 3.0 | |||
| NC State (Econ & Ag Econ are combined) | ECON: Econometrics, Trade, Applied Micro AG ECON: Environmental, Resource, Agriculture |
Q: 600-740, A: 550-700, V: 500-650 | Robin Carpenter, 919-515-7156 Tamah Morant, 919-515-9367 David Flath , 919-515-4617 |
2.5 |
| North Carolina (Chapel Hill) | Econometrics and Financial Econometrics, Economic History, Health, Labor, Micro Theory | Q: 660-800 (740 mean) | Shirlene Garner, 919-966-2384 Prof. Helen Tauchen, 919-966-2384 |
3.2 |
| NYU | Micro (Game) Theory, Macro (Monetary), Applied (Labor) Economics | Q: 750-800 | Marjorie Lesser | 3.6 |
| Ohio State (Columbus) | Macro/Monetary Economics, Labor Economics, Econometrics | Q+A+V: 1900-2100 | Director of Graduate Studies 614-292-2253 | 3.1 |
| Oregon | Macro/money, Applied Micro (Labor, IO), International | Q: 86%, A: 74%, V: 65% | Georgette Winther Prof. Jo Anna Gray |
2.2 |
| Penn State | 3.0 | |||
| Pitt | 2.9 | |||
| Purdue | Micro Theory, International Trade, Experimental Economics | Q+V: 1200-1450 | Kelly Felty | 2.8 |
| Rice | 2.7 | |||
| Rutgers | Econometrics, Industrial Organization, Macro, Economic History | Q,A: mid 700s | Prof. Barry Sopher 732-932-7197 | 2.7 |
| SMU | Econometrics, Micro Theory, Monetary Theory, International Trade | Q+V: 1300-1500 Q: 700+ |
Prof. Kamal Saggi 214-768-3806 | 2.4 |
| SUNY Buffalo | Econometrics, International Trade, Growth | Q: 725-800, A: 700-795, V: 550-675 | Rebecca Neiss 716-645-2121 | 2.2 |
| SUNY Stony Brook | 2.5 | |||
| Syracuse | Public Finance, Labor, Urban | Q: low 600s-800, A: 550-800, V: 350-700 | Prof. Donald H. Dutkowsky 315-443-1918 | 2.3 |
| Texas (Austin) | 3.4 | |||
| Texas A&M | Econometrics, Game Theory, Public Finance, Labor, Industrial Organization | Domestic: Q: 720-750, V: 520-610 Intl: Q: 710-790, V: 360-650 |
Christi Ramirez 979-845-7376 Prof. Hae-shin Hwang 979-845-7301 |
3.0 |
| U of Washington | Macro/International, Labor, Natural Resources | Q: 750, A: 680, V: 540 (mean) | econadv@u.washington.edu | 3.1 |
| UC Davis | Economic History, International, Macroeconomics/Monetary Economics | Q: 750 (88%), A: 685 (83%), V: 500 (60%) (median) Q: 744 (87%), A: 655 (73%), V: 503 (56%) (mean) |
Marilyn Dexter 530-752-0743 | 3.1 |
| UC Santa Barbara | Environmental/Natural Resources, Finance, Micro Theory | Q: 88%, A: 79%, V: 64% (mean) | Debbie Hanna 805-893-2205 | 2.7 |
| UC Irvine | Urban & Transportation, Econometrics (esp applied microeconometrics), International | Q: 650+, V: 550+ | Prof. David Brownstone | 2.3 |
| USC | Econometrics, Game Theory, Finance | Q: 760, A: 730, V: 600 | Sheila Williams 213-740-3507 | 2.7 |
| Vanderbilt | 2.9 | |||
| Virginia Tech | Micro Theory, Households & Development, Experimental Economics | Q: 700+ | Prof. Robert Gilles | 2.4 |
| Virginia | Labor, Public, IO, Theory, Applied Microeconomics | Q: 720+ | Laurie Howard 804-924-7996 | 3.4 |
| Washington U (St Louis) | 3.0 | |||
*Typical quantitative and analytical scores of successful applicants, unless otherwise noted.
Q - quantitative, A - analytical, V - verbal.
**Source: Average Reputation, US News & World Report