Best Economics Programs in Kentucky for 2027

Kentucky's economics department gives you several doors in: a BS through the Gatton College of Business and Economics, a BA through Arts and Sciences, and neighboring majors in applied economics, mathematical economics, and foreign language and international economics. The Arts and Sciences BA runs 118 to 122 hours and the BS 134 to 138. Electives let you aim at data analytics, law school preparation, industry and government work, or global policy careers. Many students add the Business Analytics minor, compete in The EconGames and join the Economics Society to meet alumni and employers.

Degree Routes

BS in Economics (Gatton) or BA in Economics (Arts and Sciences)

Related Majors

Applied, mathematical, and foreign language and international economics

Career Pathways

Data analytics, law school preparation, industry and government, global policy

Program Sources: Programs | Department of Economics | Gatton College of Business and EconomicsBachelor's Degree in Economics (Arts and Sciences) | University of Kentucky

Centre combines economics and finance into one major, so financial accounting and managerial finance sit beside micro and macro analysis, a data analysis and communication course, and econometrics. You choose between Economic Forecasting and Empirical Analysis in Economics and Finance, then finish with a senior seminar and three more upper-level economics courses. Students are urged to pair it with computer science, mathematics or languages, and those drawn to international economics are encouraged to study abroad. Internships have placed majors at GE Appliances, Brown-Forman, Merrill Lynch and the sustainability office of Louisville Metro Government.

Core Courses

Financial accounting, managerial finance, econometrics and a data analysis and communication course

Capstone

Senior Seminar after a forecasting or empirical analysis course

Internship Employers

GE Appliances, Brown-Forman, Merrill Lynch, Louisville Metro Government

Program Sources: Economics & Finance | Centre CollegeEconomics and Finance Major - Centre College

Louisville houses its Bachelor of Arts in Economics in the College of Business but shapes it like a liberal arts degree. Beyond the intermediate micro and macro courses, you take 15 hours of economics electives and 18 hours of upper-level general electives, and the college side adds three semesters of a foreign language plus 12 hours of non-business coursework at the 300 level or above. Every major finishes with the Senior Economics Seminar, which doubles as the university's culminating undergraduate experience. A separate 3+3 track lets students headed to law school start the J.D. after three undergraduate years.

Language Requirement

Three semesters of a foreign language

Capstone

Senior Economics Seminar as the culminating undergraduate experience

Law Pathway

Economics with a 3+3 track to law

Program Sources: Economics (BA) | University of Louisville Academic Catalogs

Murray State offers economics as either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Business, and the department says students have a wide choice of curricula that mix business and non-business courses. The major carries a STEM designation, which matters if you are weighing how quantitative the work is or planning on a STEM-eligible degree. Students in other majors can add a minor in economics, international economics or business economics. The same department also runs master's programs in economic analytics and economic development, so there is a graduate path nearby if you want to keep going.

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Economics

STEM Designation

Marks the analytical rigor of the curriculum

Minors

Economics, international economics and business economics

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs in Economics | Murray State UniversityCourse Paths for Economics and Finance

Western Kentucky designs its 35-hour Bachelor of Arts in Economics to be paired with something else: students must add a second major or a minor, and the light load leaves room for two minors in four years. Business minors and applied statistics are the suggested companions. Quantitative students can choose the 49-hour Mathematical Economics BS, which builds on calculus and statistics, is entered after 60 earned hours, and comes in general and actuarial concentrations. BA students may also apply to JUMP, an accelerated option that counts upper-level electives toward a master's degree in applied economics.

BA Structure

35 hours with a required second major or minor and a regression and econometrics course

Mathematical Economics BS

49 hours, admitted after 60 hours, general or actuarial concentration

Accelerated Option

BA students can apply to JUMP, counting upper-level electives toward a master's in applied economics

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Economics | WKU | Western Kentucky UniversityDepartment of Economics - Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics- Actuarial Track | Western Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky's Economics BS is taught on campus in the Haile College of Business, a short trip from downtown Cincinnati, and the program is built to be customized. Students pair it with a secondary area, choose a minor with faculty guidance, and can take paid internships in both public and private sectors. Competition is part of the culture: majors often take part in the Econ Games and the Kentucky Econ Challenge, and a Student Economics Association is active. Study abroad options include Ireland, Germany and England, and graduates often continue into law, public policy or economics graduate study.

Student Competitions

Econ Games and the Kentucky Econ Challenge

Customization

Secondary area, faculty-guided minor selection and paid internships

Study Abroad

Ireland, Germany, England and other programs

Program Sources: Economics, B.S.: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati RegionTable of Programs Offered | Northern Kentucky University Catalog

Transylvania's economics major is twelve course units, with calculus and an economics and business statistics course alongside micro and macro theory, History of Economic Thought and a senior Seminar in Economics. Four more economics courses at the 3000 level or above let you specialize. Student research is a real strand of the program: majors present at conferences with faculty support and enrichment funding, and their work has earned awards from the Kentucky Economics Association and appeared in the Journal of Applied Economics and Policy. Travel courses have taken students to Germany, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Turkey.

Major Size

Twelve course units including calculus and a senior seminar

Student Research

Conference presentations and recognition from the Kentucky Economics Association

Travel Courses

Germany, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and Turkey

Program Sources: Program: Economics, BA - Transylvania UniversityEconomics | Transylvania University

Bellarmine's Bachelor of Arts in Economics lives in the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business and pairs easily with the school's other majors. The major requires seven named economics courses plus nine hours of 300 or 400-level electives, with two math courses as related work. Students can double major with any other Rubel field, and the Economics and Finance pairing adjusts which electives you take so the two degrees overlap sensibly. Anyone thinking about an economics doctorate is told to meet an advisor early, since additional mathematics may be needed. Alumni have gone on to doctoral programs at Florida State, Indiana, Purdue and North Carolina State.

Double Major Rule

Open to every Rubel School major, with set electives for Economics and Finance

Graduate Preparation

Extra mathematics may be needed before an economics PhD

Related Math

Two math courses: MATH 205 (or 314) and MATH 125 (or 117)

Program Sources: UG.ECON.BA Program | Bellarmine University CatalogUG.ECON.BA Program | Bellarmine University Catalog

Berea's Economics BA leans toward policy, law and public service. Alongside intermediate micro and macro, majors take one course from outside economics, chosen from world history, comparative politics or international relations, and a distribution of electives such as the economics of immigration, health economics, economic development, international trade and international political economy. Econometrics is required, and an optional concentration in finance is available. The department points students with an academic interest toward the separate Quantitative Economics BS. Berea's work-study program gives economics majors practical experience on campus, and majors have held research internships at the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt.

Policy Electives

Immigration, health, development, trade and international political economy

Outside Course

One non-economics course in history or political science

Concentration

Optional finance concentration

Program Sources: Berea College Catalog, Manuals, and Handbooks - Economics B.A.Majors and Minors - Berea College

Kentucky's economics PhD sits inside the Gatton College of Business and Economics and typically takes five years of full-time study. Year one is a theory and econometrics core that ends with a June preliminary exam, which can be retaken in January. Year two combines field courses with a written field paper, and most students propose their dissertation in the spring of year three. Research centers on campus include the Center for Poverty Research, the Center for Business and Economic Research and the Kentucky Research Data Center, which opens restricted federal microdata to approved projects.

Typical Timeline

Preliminary exam after year one, field paper in year two, proposal in spring of year three

Research Centers

Center for Poverty Research and the Kentucky Research Data Center

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Economics | Gatton College of Business and Economics