Best Economics Programs in Florida for 2027

Florida's Economics BA lets you shape its advanced work around four economics electives after calculus, statistics and intermediate theory. Approved choices can include a course in business finance, economic geography or natural resource economics. If you want to study abroad, UF-sponsored and exchange coursework can count toward the major's upper-level residency requirement. Students seeking magna cum laude or summa cum laude must propose and defend an honors thesis, giving those distinctions a research requirement beyond the regular BA curriculum.

Elective Structure

Four economics electives, with one approved outside substitute allowed

Honors Research

Thesis proposal and defense for magna cum laude or summa cum laude

Program Sources: Economics | University of Florida Catalog

Florida State makes data analysis part of the economics core: Analysis of Economic Data precedes Introduction to Econometrics, alongside intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics. Calculus and statistics support that sequence, and you'll also complete a minor. The department requires the core by the first semester of senior year and encourages finishing it earlier. Elective subjects include behavioral economics, experimental economics, housing and health. Choose from the current approved list, since Personal Finance taken from fall 2026 onward does not count toward the major.

Data Sequence

Statistics and Analysis of Economic Data precede Introduction to Econometrics

Second Field

A minor is required alongside the economics major

Program Sources: Major Requirements - Department Of Economics

USF offers an Economics BA and a more mathematical BS in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. The BA emphasizes applying economic theory to practical problems; the BS adds extensive quantitative analysis. Eligible students in either degree can apply to an accelerated master's pathway that counts Introduction to Mathematical Economics and Introduction to Econometrics toward graduate study. Compare the mathematics required by each bachelor's plan before deciding whether the accelerated route fits your preparation.

Degree Emphasis

Economics BA applies theory; the quantitative BS emphasizes mathematical analysis

Accelerated Study

Eligible BA and BS students can apply two specified courses toward the economics MA

Program Sources: Welcome to the Program | Economics | College of Arts and Sciences | University of South Florida

FIU's Economics BA combines a policy and applied focus with required econometrics and economic measurement. You'll complete intermediate theory, a topics-in-theory course and an Undergraduate Seminar as well as economics electives. The seminar satisfies the oral competency requirement and needs the undergraduate adviser's approval to enroll. Calculus and statistics come before the upper-division program. When choosing electives, at least two must come from the department's list of courses that require prior intermediate theory, so their prerequisites affect your schedule.

Required Methods

Measurement and Analysis of Economic Activity and Introduction to Econometrics

Seminar Planning

Adviser approval is required for the Undergraduate Seminar, which satisfies oral competency

Program Sources: BA in Economics | FIU Department of Economics

Florida State's Applied Economics MS follows a full-time campus cohort from fall through summer. Applied microeconomics, econometrics and economic data analysis lead into a summer Applied Master's Project. You'll practice technical writing and formal presentations, with professionals evaluating the final project presentations at a July symposium. The published plan includes programming and machine learning electives, plus a spring choice between an applied economics internship and applied health economics. This is a structured annual sequence, so plan to study through the summer.

Capstone

Summer Applied Master’s Project and presentations evaluated at a July symposium

Spring Elective Choice

Applied Economics Internship or Applied Health Economics

Program Sources: Program Overview - Department Of EconomicsMaster's in Applied Economics - Department Of Economics

Florida Atlantic’s economics MS offers a general track and concentrations in econometrics and data analytics or financial economics. The analytics concentration adds panel data and choices such as data mining or business applications of artificial intelligence; the finance route draws on monetary economics and graduate finance courses. Students may complete the degree through coursework or replace part of that coursework with a six-credit thesis. Core study also includes game theory and economic growth.

Research Choice

Coursework route or a six-credit thesis with graduate coursework

Analytics Concentration

Required panel data with business analytics and approved technology electives

Program Sources: Program Information | Master's in Economics | FAU Business

South Florida's Economics MA finishes with an oral examination before a faculty committee. The non-thesis curriculum starts with microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics and econometrics, then adds electives. You can deepen the quantitative work through further econometrics or investigate subjects such as health care, crime, education and labor economics. Up to six credits may come from outside economics, within the program's rules. Because the elective schedule changes each year, check when your preferred subjects run before planning the degree around them.

Final Assessment

Oral examination before a three-member faculty committee

Elective Planning

Economics electives plus up to six credits outside the department

Program Sources: M.A. in Economics | Economics | College of Arts and Sciences | University of South Florida

Florida's Economics PhD introduces computing and computational methods during its first-year theory and econometrics core. The following summer brings a required research paper, followed by more independent research during the second year. You'll take advanced econometrics and choose additional fields from industrial organization, international trade, macroeconomics and public economics. Written field examinations mark the transition toward dissertation research. The department admits a new cohort every other year, so the application cycle is a practical consideration alongside your intended research specialization.

Computational Core

Computing and Computational Methods I and II during the first year

Early Research

Required first-summer paper followed by a second-year independent research paper

Program Sources: Curriculum - EconomicsPh.D. in Economics - Economics

Florida State's Economics PhD introduces research methods alongside its initial microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics courses. You'll choose at least two fields, with options including experimental and behavioral economics, population economics, urban economics and applied econometrics. One field may come from another department with approval. The third-year paper conference gives your developing research a scheduled presentation point before later dissertation work. Department workshops also bring students, faculty and visiting speakers together, so research participation extends beyond the formal course sequence.

Field Structure

At least two specializations; one outside-department field may be approved

Research Presentation

Participation in the third-year paper conference

Program Sources: PhD Curriculum - Department Of EconomicsProgram Overview - Department Of Economics

FIU's Economics PhD uses a third-year paper to move you from coursework into independent research. You'll present the paper in a workshop and seek approval from your dissertation committee. The curriculum includes mathematical methods and successive econometrics courses, with qualifying examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. The dissertation can take the form of connected essays or a single extended study. Its committee includes a member from outside economics, adding another disciplinary perspective to the plan and the eventual defense.

Research Milestone

Third-year paper presented in a workshop and approved by the dissertation committee

Dissertation Format

Connected essays or a single study, supervised by a committee including an outside-department member

Program Sources: FIU Economics Handbook of Graduate Studies 2025–26