Best Economics Programs in Indiana for 2027

Notre Dame houses economics in the College of Arts and Letters, so the quantitative core of theory and research methods comes inside a liberal arts curriculum. Majors can apply, usually in sophomore year, for one of two selective concentrations: Financial Economics and Econometrics, aimed at investment management and banking, or Evidence-Based Poverty Alleviation, which teaches causal inference for research, policy and NGO work. A highly selective honors track gives eligible students a year of independent research with a faculty member and a senior honors workshop. An international economics major adds language fluency.

Concentrations

Financial Economics and Econometrics, or Evidence-Based Poverty Alleviation

Honors Track

Yearlong independent research project with a senior honors workshop

Related Major

International Economics, combining economics with a language

Program Sources: Economics Major | Undergraduate | Department of Economics | University of Notre DameConcentrations | Undergraduate | Department of Economics | University of Notre Dame

Purdue's Quantitative Business Economics major builds toward a senior-year capstone that the university calls the only one of its kind in its business school, where you work on real data problems alongside economics professors. Advanced courses include econometrics, game theory and statistical modeling. Outside class, students join the Purdue Economic Association or the Boilermaker Consulting Group, or do research at the Purdue University Research Center in Economics. Before upper-level business courses, you complete an Economics Admission Index of written and oral communication, applied calculus, microeconomics and macroeconomics, with a 2.75 index GPA.

Senior Capstone

Data-driven capstone worked with economics professors, described as the only one of its kind in the school

Advanced Courses

Econometrics, game theory and statistical modeling

Admission Index

Written and oral communication, applied calculus, ECON 25100 and ECON 25200, with a 2.75 index GPA and C- or better in economics

Student Groups

Purdue Economic Association, Boilermaker Consulting Group and the Purdue University Research Center in Economics

Program Sources: Quantitative Business Economics (QBE) major | Purdue UniversityUpper Division Requirements | Purdue Business

Indiana Bloomington lets you shape the economics degree: a general BA, joint BAs with Mathematics or Political Science, and an Economics and Quantitative Methods BS for students who want computational depth. The BS pairs core theory with applied econometrics in industry-standard computing tools and caps the sequence with advanced courses such as Analysis of Big Data, Computational Macroeconomics and Advanced Econometrics. The BA's coursework ranges across financial economics, money and banking, public finance, labor, international economics, development and game theory. An Accelerated Master's Program lets undergraduates double count up to nine master's-level credits toward both degrees.

Degree Options

Economics BA, Economics and Math BA, Economics and Political Science BA, Quantitative Methods BS

BS Advanced Courses

Analysis of Big Data, Computational Macroeconomics and Advanced Econometrics

Accelerated Master's

Up to nine MS credits count toward both degrees

Program Sources: Economics & Quantitative Methods B.S.: Undergraduate: Department of Economics: Indiana University BloomingtonEconomics Accelerated Master's Program (AMP): Undergraduate: Department of Economics: Indiana University Bloomington

DePauw's economics major is ten courses in the School of Business and Leadership, leaving room for the liberal arts around it. Core classes include ECON 294 and 295, Statistics for Economics and Management, in which you write an empirical research paper, and a senior capstone. At least one 400-level elective is required, and three courses must be at the 300 or 400 level. Seniors usually take the Senior Seminar, but exceptional students can apply for an independent senior thesis that ends in a written thesis and a public presentation. At least eight of the ten courses must be taken on campus.

Major Size

Ten courses, including at least one 400-level elective

Senior Requirement

Senior Seminar or an independent senior thesis with public presentation

Writing

Empirical research paper in statistics and analytical papers in the capstone

Program Sources: Economics Major and Minor Requirements - DePauw University

Ball State's economics major offers two concentrations that lead in different directions. Business Economics runs through the Miller College of Business core and doubles easily with accounting, marketing or finance. Liberal Arts Economics skips the business core and offers five optional tracks, including Financial Economics for students pairing with mathematical sciences or actuarial science, while a double major with political science suits future law students. The department highlights small classes taught by full-time professors, the Federal Reserve Challenge Competition, a student economics club and the Center for Business and Economic Research. At least one calculus course is strongly recommended.

Concentrations

Business Economics or Liberal Arts, with five optional liberal arts tracks

Hands-On Learning

Federal Reserve Challenge Competition and the Center for Business and Economic Research

Math Advice

At least one calculus course strongly recommended

Program Sources: Economics Degree | Bachelor of Science in EconomicsLiberal Arts Concentration | Economics Major | Department of Economics | Ball State University

Purdue's online Economics MS is 30 credit hours: nine foundational credits (microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, math and statistics for economists), 15 to 21 credits of economics electives and six credits of business electives. Electives range from applied game theory, behavioral economics and economic forecasting to financial econometrics, statistical and machine learning, and Quantitative Economics with Python. You can specialize by earning one of three online graduate certificates: financial economics, business and economics data analytics, or public economics and policy. Purdue STEM undergraduates can count up to nine credit hours toward both a bachelor's and this master's.

Credit Structure

30 credits: 9 foundational, 15 to 21 economics electives, 6 business electives

Certificate Specializations

Financial economics, business and economics data analytics, or public economics and policy

Combined Degree

Purdue STEM undergraduates can apply up to 9 credit hours to both a BS and the MS

Format

Online

Program Sources: Curriculum | Online MS Economics | Purdue Business

Indiana's economics PhD asks for 90 credit hours, about half of them coursework, with optimization theory, two semesters each of micro and macro, three of econometrics, a research skill and three fields: one primary and two supporting. Field menus include computational macroeconomics, financial econometrics, experimental economics, games and networks, international trade and public economics, plus a finance field offered with the Kelley School. A substantial third-year paper, written under a preliminary advisory committee, is meant to become a dissertation chapter. The degree is STEM-designated, and up to 30 transfer hours from earlier graduate work can count.

Field Requirement

One primary and two supporting fields

Third-Year Paper

Substantial paper that can become a dissertation chapter

Kelley Partnership

Finance field taken through the Department of Finance

Program Sources: Ph.D. Degree: Graduate: Department of Economics: Indiana University Bloomington

Notre Dame protects the first year of its economics PhD: you take micro theory, macroeconomics and econometrics with no teaching or research duties, then sit comprehensive exams in each subject. Field classes and assistantships fill years two and three, and a third-year paper presented by the end of the fall semester decides whether you continue. Spring and fall Research and Writing Seminars structure the early research. The program is designed to be finished in five years, students in good standing are guaranteed five years of funding, and a competitive application in the fourth year can earn a sixth.

First Year

Core classes and comprehensive exams, with no teaching or research duties

Funding

Five years guaranteed, with a competitive sixth-year application

Third-Year Paper

Presented by the end of fall semester to continue in the program

Program Sources: Program of Study | Graduate | Department of Economics | University of Notre Dame

Purdue's economics PhD lives in the Daniels School of Business and requires at least 50 credit hours: 16 in economic theory, 10 in econometrics, six in a primary field that ends with an area exam, and six in a secondary field. The secondary field can come from outside economics, with accounting, finance, management science, marketing, mathematics, statistics and operations on the list, once the Economics Policy Committee approves. Workshops are required every semester from the second year. Research strengths include macroeconomics, labor, public economics, experimental economics, international trade and econometrics, and every candidate defends a dissertation.

Credit Breakdown

16 theory, 10 econometrics, 6 primary field and 6 secondary field hours

Secondary Field

May come from business or quantitative departments with committee approval

Workshops

One each semester from the second year

Program Sources: Student Guide to the Economics PhD Program - Purdue Business

Indianapolis builds its economics PhD around health economics and applied econometrics, with a theory sequence, a six-course econometrics and statistics sequence, and at least 61.5 credit hours of coursework before thesis credits take over. Every candidate completes a structured minor of at least nine graduate credits in a related area, typically in the health and life sciences, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences or health policy and management. Starting in the third year, students enroll in a workshop course for at least four semesters. Applicants need multivariable calculus, linear algebra, statistics and econometrics, and intermediate microeconomic theory.

Specialty

Health economics and applied econometrics

Required Minor

At least nine graduate credits, often in public health or biostatistics

Workshop

Four semesters beginning in the third year

Program Sources: Economics M.S. and Ph.D. : IU Indianapolis Bulletin