Best Economics Programs in Kansas for 2027

Kansas sorts economics students into three bachelor's degrees, and the choice is worth making deliberately. The BS is the one recommended for graduate school in economics, and future PhD applicants are urged to double major with mathematics. The BA adds specific requirements in writing, mathematics, foreign language and laboratory science. The BGS drops those in favor of room to explore another field through two certificates, a minor or a double major. Roughly 220 students major in the subject, and three accelerated 4+1 master's options let strong students begin graduate work early.

Degree Choices

BA, BS and BGS, each with a different balance of math, language and flexibility

Graduate School Route

BS recommended, with a double major in mathematics for PhD applicants

Accelerated Options

Three 4+1 master's programs

Program Sources: Economics Undergraduate Programs | University of Kansas

K-State lets economics majors keep the degree general or commit to one of four tracks: Economic Analyst, Economic Policy, Business Economics and Financial Economics. The credit hours stay the same either way, but the electives narrow. The analyst track requires calculus-based intermediate microeconomics, several econometrics courses and extra calculus and statistics, which suits future graduate students. The policy track asks for a logic or moral philosophy course and one on American politics, and fits law school plans. Mentoring pairs students with alumni, and an accelerated master's leads to an MA in year five.

Four Tracks

Economic Analyst, Economic Policy, Business Economics, Financial Economics

Analyst Track Math

Calculus-based intermediate micro, several econometrics courses, extra calculus and statistics

Accelerated Master's

Bachelor's after four years, MA in economics after five

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs | K-State EconomicsSpecialized Tracks | K-State Economics

Fort Hays built this major for people who expect to work across borders. It starts with a broad base of traditional business courses and then draws more heavily than most business degrees on political science, sociology, geography or a foreign language. Graduates are expected to read the international trade environment, work effectively in diverse settings, forecast economic and business events and evaluate investment prospects in countries around the world. The program has its own director, a professor of economics and finance, who talks with prospective majors, so the major has a personal point of contact.

Cross-Disciplinary Mix

Business core combined with political science, sociology, geography or foreign language

Outcomes

Trade environment, cultural sensitivity, forecasting and global investment evaluation

Program Director

A professor of economics and finance directs the program

Program Sources: International Business and Economics Program | Fort Hays State University

Pittsburg State houses economics in the Kelce College of Business, which holds AACSB accreditation, so the degree is framed around analyzing economic data to make business decisions. An International Business emphasis adds a global angle. Students can add a second major or a minor, work with local businesses on strategies for customer and brand engagement, and join the college's Future Business Leaders chapter. A downloadable degree map lays out the sequence. Careers named by the program include credit analyst, financial advisor, policy analyst and supply chain analyst.

Emphasis

International Business

Client Work

Projects with local businesses on engagement strategies

Accreditation

Kelce College of Business, AACSB-accredited

Program Sources: Business Economics major | Pittsburg State University

Washburn's BA in Economics is the liberal arts route, with coursework drawn from both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Brenneman School of Business. Economics itself takes 24 hours, including Economics 200, 201, 211, 300 and 301, and 15 of those at the 300 or 400 level. Students must hold a 2.0 in the 200-level economics courses before advancing, and the degree includes a language course at the 102 level. Qualified seniors can earn Honors in Economics through independent research in Economics 405. A mathematics minor is suggested for anyone planning graduate study.

Required Economics Courses

Economics 200, 201, 211, 300 and 301 within 24 economics hours

Honors Option

Economics 405 research and a 3.50 GPA in economics courses

Gate to Upper Level

2.0 GPA in 200-level economics before 300-level courses

Program Sources: Economics BA | Washburn University

Benedictine treats economics as a liberal arts major, built from conversation between faculty and students inside and outside the classroom, with a push toward original economic research. The department states three aims: a working grasp of markets and the present-day economic system, readiness for banking, finance, business or government careers, and preparation for graduate study in economics, law, business or public administration. A third aim stands out: teaching social sciences in secondary schools. Students can also add a minor in economics or in economics and politics.

Career Aims

Banking and finance, business, government, graduate study or secondary teaching

Research Emphasis

Faculty encourage student economic research

Related Minors

Economics, and Economics and Politics

Program Sources: Economics | Benedictine College

Baker's economics major, available as a BA or a BS in the College of Arts and Sciences at Baldwin City, pairs the usual micro and macro principles with unusually applied electives: Applied Game Theory, Economics of Sports, Managerial Economics and Industrial Organization. Upper-level courses include Intermediate Macroeconomics, Labor Economics, International Trade, International Finance and Applied Econometrics, where multiple regression is run in statistical software. An Economics Internship worth three to six credit hours, with at least 120 clock hours in a professional workplace, ties the coursework to a real employer. Small classes mean you work closely with department faculty.

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

Applied Electives

Applied Game Theory, Economics of Sports, Managerial Economics, Industrial Organization and Labor Economics

Econometrics

EC 400 Applied Econometrics, built on multiple regression techniques

Internship

EC 390 Economics Internship, 3 to 6 credits, with at least 120 clock hours at a workplace

Program Sources: Economics | Baker UniversityEconomics | Baker University

Kansas admits a class of five to seven students a year and funds all of them: a five-year package that typically includes a full tuition waiver, a paid teaching assistantship and conference travel money. Students build expertise in two fields, sit qualifying exams in June after the first year, and follow annual milestones meant to get them finished in five years, with early pairing to research faculty. GRE scores are required. Domestic applicants are eligible for the Self Graduate Fellowship at $40,000 a year, a significant extra for those who qualify.

Cohort and Funding

Five to seven fully funded students per year, five-year package

Exam Timing

Qualifying exams in June after the first year

Extra Fellowship

Self Graduate Fellowship of $40,000 a year for eligible domestic applicants

Program Sources: PhD Program | Economics | The University of Kansas

K-State's economics doctorate offers fields in econometrics, international economics, industrial organization, labor, macroeconomics and public economics, with grounding in both econometrics and theory. Many students coauthor with faculty and present at conferences, and many are given their own classes to teach, with the department coaching the move into the classroom. Graduates have landed tenure-track jobs at places like Clarkson, Missouri State, Rochester Institute of Technology, Seattle University and Xavier. The fall deadline is January 8, and only applicants who apply by it are guaranteed consideration for funding.

Fields

Econometrics, international, industrial organization, labor, macro, public

Teaching Experience

Many students teach their own classes with department coaching

Funding Deadline

January 8 for fall; later applicants considered as resources allow

Program Sources: Economics Ph.D. Program | K-State Economics