Best Economics Programs in Connecticut for 2027

Yale's economics major is twelve credits: eleven economics courses and one math course, with only one outside course allowed as an elective. The senior essay is optional, which sets Yale apart, but it is required for Distinction, which also needs A- grades in three quarters of major courses. Essays run about 30 pages, can be theoretical, empirical or computational, and most students choose the two-term version. To write one you need two econometrics courses, and up to $500 in research expenses can be reimbursed. Interdepartmental routes include Computer Science and Economics, Economics and Mathematics, and Ethics, Politics and Economics.

Course Load

Eleven economics courses plus one math course

Senior Essay

Optional, one or two terms, required for Distinction

Essay Prerequisite

Two econometrics courses

Related Majors

Computer Science and Economics, Economics and Mathematics, Ethics Politics and Economics

Program Sources: Major Requirements, Yale Department of EconomicsSenior Essay, Yale Department of Economics

Trinity asks you to declare economics by the Friday after spring break of sophomore year, with a B- or better in ECON 101 and a C+ or better in intermediate micro or macro in hand. The BS is the version the department recommends for anyone thinking about graduate work in economics, and it is a STEM Extension eligible major for international students. Both degrees share the ECON 101, 301 and 302 theory core, which must be completed at Trinity along with ECON 431. Seniors choose between four 300-level courses plus ECON 431, or three 300-level courses plus a two-course senior thesis (ECON 498 and 499) with a thesis seminar.

Declaration Deadline

Friday after spring break of sophomore year

Senior Options

ECON 431 capstone path or senior thesis (ECON 498 and 499)

STEM Status

BS qualifies for the OPT STEM Extension

Degrees

BA and BS

Program Sources: Economics Major (B.S.), Trinity College CatalogEconomics Major Requirements, Trinity College Catalog

UConn offers both degrees in economics, and the difference is practical. The BA requires 24 upper-level economics credits and suits careers in business, law, policy and MBA study. The BS requires 27 and is recommended for anyone heading to a master's or PhD or into quantitative analyst roles. Both add 12 credits of related 2000-level courses. Everyone starts as a BA and may switch at any time. Strong students can take an accelerated route into the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics, with certain courses counting toward both degrees, and the department sorts elective advice by career area such as finance, trade, public policy and government.

BA Requirement

24 upper-level economics credits

BS Requirement

27 upper-level economics credits

Related Courses

12 credits of 2000-level related coursework in both degrees

Accelerated Option

Undergraduate-to-graduate path into the MS in Quantitative Economics

Program Sources: The Economics Major, UConn Department of EconomicsCustomize Your Major, UConn Department of Economics

Fairfield's economics BA is a compact 30-credit major: intro micro and macro, intermediate micro and macro, economic statistics, and five economics electives, no more than three at the 2000 level. The department describes it as focused on policy analysis and business applications, aimed at students going into business or government or on to law or business school. Applied calculus is the suggested math. If you want more quantitative training, the college also offers a separate Quantitative Economics BS, and the Dolan School of Business has its own economics BS, so compare the three before declaring.

Credits

30 in economics

Required Courses

Intro and intermediate micro and macro, economic statistics

Electives

Five, with no more than three at the 2000 level

Related Degrees

Quantitative Economics BS in the College of Arts and Sciences

Program Sources: Economics Major (BA in CAS), Fairfield University Catalog

Connecticut College gives two routes. The general major is ten economics courses with a five-course core, two 300-level courses and a 400-level course or honors study. The Quantitative Economics and Econometrics major keeps that core, adds ECO 230 and a calculus course, and asks for electives in both calculus-based and econometrics-based groups. The college stands out for offering several econometrics and corporate finance courses, and students can do research with faculty or an honors thesis. Recent senior theses covered Rawls's influence on economics, immigration and English labor markets, and money in ancient Greece and Rome. Faculty lead Study Away Teach Away trips to Vietnam.

Majors

Economics, and Quantitative Economics and Econometrics

Core

ECO 111, 112, 205, 206 and 230

Capstone Option

400-level course or Economics Honors Study

Study Away

Study Away Teach Away semesters to Vietnam led by economics faculty

Program Sources: Quantitative Economics and Econometrics Major, Connecticut College CatalogEconomics, Connecticut College

Wesleyan's economics major begins with ECON 110, the introductory theory course with a calculus prerequisite, and it expects you to be accepted into the major by the end of sophomore year. Entering students from 2026 on declare in the second semester of sophomore year and need a Wesleyan GPA of 85.0 or better. Majors take at least eight upper-level courses: three theory courses in micro, macro and econometrics, and five electives, three of them at the 300 level or higher. The capstone is met through three upper-level electives that each require a substantial research paper. Honors come through a two-semester thesis. Transfer students are told not to count on entering the major.

Entry Course

ECON 110, with calculus as a prerequisite

Upper-Level Load

Three core theory courses and five electives

Capstone

Three upper-level electives that each require a research paper

Honors

Two-semester honors thesis

Program Sources: About the Major, Wesleyan Department of EconomicsAbout the Major, Wesleyan Department of Economics

Quinnipiac's economics BS has a common core of intermediate micro and macro, advanced applied statistics and a senior seminar, then a track. The General Economics track builds toward banking, consulting and insurance. The Policy track swaps in social science courses. The Commerce track adds School of Business courses. The Quantitative track adds econometrics, advanced econometrics or a data science course for students aiming at data-driven work or graduate economics. Accelerated 3+1 programs combine the BS with an MBA, an MS in Accounting or an MS in Applied AI and Business Analytics, and a dual degree with the JD is also possible.

Tracks

General Economics, Policy, Commerce, Quantitative

Core

Intermediate micro and macro, advanced applied statistics, senior seminar

Accelerated Options

3+1 with MBA, MS in Accounting, or MS in Applied AI and Business Analytics

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science in Economics, Quinnipiac University Catalog

Yale’s economics PhD includes an empirical paper requirement alongside specialized field study. In later years, students attend both a formal research workshop and an informal prospectus lunch or reading group, with presentations required during the third and fourth years. Field options include environmental economics, political economy, and economic history. The third year is devoted to finding a dissertation question and developing research with an advisory committee.

Empirical Paper

Third-year students who have not yet met the empirical paper requirement submit one by February 1

Workshops

At least two workshops each year after the second, including one formal research workshop and one informal prospectus lunch or reading group

Candidacy

At least fourteen economics term courses and admission to candidacy before the fourth year

Program Sources: Milestones and Timeline | Yale EconomicsMilestones and Timeline | Yale Economics

UConn plans for a four to five year PhD: three years of coursework, then research and the dissertation. Year one is micro, macro, mathematical economics and the first econometrics course, followed by preliminary exams in micro and macro that you must pass within two attempts. Year two adds a third econometrics course, field courses and a graduate seminar each semester, and a third-year research paper follows. Students need at least five field courses, including a two-course sequence in labor, macro and money, industrial organization, or environmental and natural resource economics. There is no foreign language requirement, and admission is for fall only.

Timeline

Four to five years, with three years of coursework

Exams and Papers

Preliminary exams after year one, third-year research paper, dissertation proposal

Fields

Labor, macroeconomics and money, industrial organization, environmental and natural resource economics

Language Rule

No foreign language requirement

Program Sources: Ph.D. Program, UConn Department of Economics

This associate degree is built as a Transfer Ticket: complete it at a Connecticut community college campus and move into a bachelor's in economics at Southern, Central, Eastern or Western Connecticut State University, or Charter Oak State College, with junior standing and no lost credits. The degree pairs Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics with statistics and calculus for business and social science, plus the general education framework. At 61 to 65 credits, it is offered at ten campuses, including Capital, Manchester, Norwalk and Gateway. Learning goals include analyzing real economic problems with statistical methods and communicating solutions to different audiences.

Transfer Guarantee

Junior status at CSCU universities and Charter Oak State College

Economics Courses

Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, Statistics I

Math

Calculus for Business and Social Science or Calculus I

Credits

61 to 65

Program Sources: Economics Studies CSCU Transfer Degree AA, CT State Catalog