Best Economics Programs in Washington, DC for 2027

Georgetown's AB in Economics takes 11 courses, at least six of them in the department, and is recognized as a STEM degree. A required math course, Essential Mathematics for Economics, is the gateway to every 2000-level class, so students who feel shaky on calculus can build up to it with the math department's readiness assessment. Economics electives must be at the 2000 level or above, at least two at the 4000 level, and honors requires three 4000-level courses. The DC Semester in Economics, run with the Capitol Applied Learning Labs, pairs for-credit internships with major coursework.

Major Size

11 courses, at least six taken in Georgetown's economics department

DC Semester

Internship for credit plus required and elective economics courses

Program Sources: Major in Economics (COL) | Department of Economics | Georgetown University

George Washington gives economics majors a choice. The BA stresses economic principles and modeling, with calculus and statistics, and fits graduate study in policy or careers in consulting, finance and law. The BS adds a further calculus course, courses in related STEM fields, econometrics and more advanced electives, and is aimed at graduate programs in economics or work needing sophisticated quantitative analysis. A BA or BS in Economics/MPP combines the major with a public policy master's. The department recommends Special Honors for majors with six graded ECON courses at GW and a 3.75 GPA in economics.

Degree Choice

BA (less quantitative) or BS (extra calculus, STEM courses, econometrics)

Special Honors

Six graded ECON courses in residence and 3.75 combined GPA

Program Sources: BS in Economics | Department of Economics | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington UniversityDepartmental Special Honors | Department of Economics | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington University

American University offers economics as a BA or a BS, with a joint BS in Mathematics and Economics for the most quantitative students, plus a combined bachelor's and master's option. Graduates of both degrees are expected to carry out a regression analysis on a real-world question and complete a project that applies an economic model. Being in Washington matters here: the department points out that the region is home to over one-third of the nation's economists, and recent graduates have landed at the World Bank Group, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Degree Options

BA, BS, and BS in Mathematics and Economics

Learning Outcomes

Regression analysis on a real-world question; project applying an economic model

Program Sources: Economics Learning Outcomes | American University, Washington, DC

Howard's economics major is 37 credits of economics, with principles, intermediate micro and macro theory, statistics for business and economics, and introductory econometrics at the core. Electives can be drawn from areas such as international economics and urban economics. Every senior sits a comprehensive examination on general economic theory and statistics, offered twice a year, and submits an electronic portfolio to the department. The college's general education requirements include a four-course foreign language sequence, and graduation with honors in the department takes nine hours of honors work.

Required Core

ECON 001, 002, 170, 171, 180 and 184

Senior Requirement

Comprehensive exam plus electronic portfolio

Program Sources: Economics Major | Howard University Department of Economics

Catholic University houses its economics BS in the Busch School of Business, which shapes the degree: 18 economics courses plus two business courses, with six core courses, five math and statistics courses, five concentration courses and five electives. Students move from micro and macro principles into statistics, econometrics and data analytics, take a course in economic ethics rooted in Catholic social teaching, and can count a Washington internship as an elective. The cohort takes many courses together, and majors can join an annual trip to Wall Street to meet alumni.

Degree Structure

18 economics courses and 2 business courses

Distinctive Features

Economic ethics course, DC internship option, annual Wall Street trip

Program Sources: Economics (BS) | Busch School of Business | Catholic University

Georgetown's economics PhD is a full-time program designed for students who want research careers, and it sits in the nation's capital, which suits both pure theory and policy-informed work. Admissions leans heavily on mathematics: undergraduate statistics and multivariable calculus are required, the GRE is mandatory, and an economics background is desirable but exceptions are made for strong alternative preparation. Three letters of recommendation are required, and applicants who want fellowship consideration submit an extra personal statement of up to 250 words.

Required Preparation

Undergraduate statistics and multivariable calculus

Application Materials

GRE required; three letters of recommendation

Program Sources: Ph.D. Admissions |

George Washington graduates about ten PhD students a year, and the degree is STEM-designated. Pre-candidacy takes 48 credits, 18 in required courses and 30 in electives, plus general exams in micro and macro theory and a paper proposal. Students pick a microeconomics or macroeconomics option by the end of August of year two. Candidacy adds a dissertation seminar, the written dissertation and an oral defense, typically in five to six years. Along the way students can earn an MS or an MPhil, and part-time doctoral study is occasionally allowed for highly qualified applicants.

Pre-Candidacy Credits

48 credits: 18 required and 30 elective

Options

Microeconomics or macroeconomics option; MS or MPhil earned along the way

Program Sources: PhD in Economics | Department of Economics | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington University

Howard's economics doctorate is built for students who already hold a master's: applicants must have earned a Master of Arts in economics, though a related master's may earn conditional admission if the work is equivalent. Admitted students should arrive with a GPA well over B and 24 graduate credits, including six in economic theory, three in econometrics and three in graduate statistics. The Graduate School adds a reading examination in a foreign language, an English proficiency check, and responsible conduct of research training before candidacy. Full-time students can apply for research assistantships that carry a stipend.

Admission Requirement

Master of Arts in economics, or equivalent work for conditional admission

Doctoral Requirements

Foreign language reading exam, RCR workshop, dissertation proposal

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy | Howard University Department of Economics

American University's economics PhD has eight required courses in theory, econometrics and research methods, then seven electives you choose to build a field in development, gender, international, labor or macro and monetary economics, or to learn advanced empirical methods such as GIS tools. Students pass one comprehensive exam at the end of the first year and write a journal-quality paper by the end of the third, which becomes the start of the dissertation. The degree is STEM-designated, and evening classes make it workable for Washington-area professionals.

Course Structure

Eight required courses and seven electives

Milestones

Comprehensive exam after year one; research paper by end of year three

Program Sources: PhD in Economics | American University, Washington, DC