Best Economics Programs in Massachusetts for 2027

Harvard's economics concentration has a basic track of eleven courses, and the piece students talk about most is ECON 970, the Sophomore Tutorial, which comes after statistics and the first intermediate theory course. Intermediate theory is graded strictly: you need a B- or better in both semesters. Honors is optional and comes in two forms. The Thesis Track adds multivariable calculus, two semesters of ECON 985 (Senior Thesis Research Seminar), a senior thesis and the honors exam, and is the only route to summa or magna. The Advanced Course Track needs two more courses and the exam and tops out at cum laude. Both honors tracks total fourteen courses.

Basic Track

Eleven courses including ECON 970 Sophomore Tutorial and econometrics

Theory Standard

B- or higher in both intermediate micro and intermediate macro

Thesis Track

Multivariable calculus, two semesters of ECON 985, senior thesis, honors exam

Honors Size

Fourteen courses on either honors track

Program Sources: Concentrating in Economics, Harvard Department of EconomicsConcentrating in Economics, Harvard Department of Economics

Amherst's major is nine economics courses with a choice built into the core: you take micro, macro and econometrics in either the standard version (300, 330, 360) or the advanced version (301, 331, 361), which requires additional math courses. To declare, you need at least a B in the introductory course or a B- in a 200-level elective, and the department wants the core finished by the end of junior year. At least one elective must be at the 400 level, and there is no minimum of lower-level electives. Honors students take a tenth course and a thesis seminar in the fall of senior year. Electives range from game theory to environmental economics, entrepreneurship and monetary policy.

Course Count

Nine economics courses, ten for honors

Core Versions

Standard (300, 330, 360) or advanced (301, 331, 361)

Declaration Standard

B in Economics 111 or B- in a 200-level elective

Upper-Level Rule

At least one elective numbered 400 to 490

Program Sources: Major Requirements, Amherst College Economics

Economics is the most popular major at Williams, and its structure is strict about sequencing: start with ECON 110 in your first year and finish a statistics course early because ECON 255 requires one. Nine courses make up the major: two principles courses, three core courses in price and allocation theory, macroeconomics and econometrics, and four electives at the 200 level or higher. At least two electives must be advanced (300 to 398) and at least one must be a 400-level seminar built around research and writing. Seniors can write an honors thesis over a full year or a single semester. The Center for Development Economics lets undergraduates take its graduate courses.

Course Count

Nine: two principles, three core, four electives

Seminar Rule

At least one seminar numbered 400 to 490

Honors

Full-year or one-semester senior thesis

Graduate Courses

Center for Development Economics courses open to qualified undergraduates

Program Sources: The Major, Williams College Economics

Tufts offers two majors and both carry STEM certification. The BA in Economics takes ten courses and is the more flexible of the two. The BA/BS in Quantitative Economics takes twelve and follows a more mathematical route, with multivariable calculus and linear algebra, a dedicated statistics course (Economics 14), and quantitative versions of intermediate macro. The department recommends it for graduate study in economics or quantitative finance. BA students who are mathematically inclined are advised to take Economics 16, 18 and 107 in place of 12 and 15 and pursue the quantitative major. A C- or better is needed in every course counting toward either major.

BA in Economics

Ten courses, flexible electives

Quantitative BA/BS

Twelve courses with multivariable calculus and linear algebra

STEM Status

Both majors carry STEM certification

Grade Rule

C- or better in every course counted

Program Sources: BA/BS in Quantitative Economics, Tufts Department of EconomicsBA in Economics, Tufts Department of Economics

Boston College builds a structured economics major: Principles, one micro and one macro theory course (each with two course options), econometric methods, and six electives, at least four of them at the 3000 level. A semester of calculus comes before theory, and ECON 2211, Math for Economic Analysis, is recommended if the math worries you. Electives come in lecture sections of up to 50 or writing-intensive sections capped at 20 to 25. Courses taken elsewhere are limited to two, and statistics, theory and econometrics must be taken at BC. Students eyeing graduate school are advised to complete roughly a math minor.

Structure

Principles, micro theory, macro theory, econometrics, six electives

Electives

At least four at the 3000 level or above

Transfer Limit

Two non-BC courses, none in theory or econometrics

Format Choice

Lecture sections or writing-intensive sections of 20 to 25

Program Sources: Major and Minor, Boston College Economics

Harvard moves from first-year economic theory and quantitative economics into two fields of specialization, with additional coursework outside those fields. Options include contracts and organizations, behavioral economics, and political economy. In the third year, students take a research preparatory course and write a faculty-supervised paper. They also begin presenting in graduate workshops, where regular presentations continue as their research develops toward a dissertation.

First-Year Courses

Econ 2010a to 2010d (micro and macro) plus Econ 2120 and 2140 (quantitative economics)

Fields

Two fields with two approved courses each, plus 1.5 courses outside them

Third-Year Paper

Research Preparatory course and a faculty-supervised paper (Econ 2001) due May 15

Research Proposal

Presented to a faculty committee by December 15 of the fourth year

Program Sources: Program Requirements | Harvard Department of EconomicsProgram Requirements | Harvard Department of Economics

MIT enrolls 20 to 24 full-time doctoral students a year, and most finish in five to six years. Core coursework in micro theory, macro and econometrics comes first, then two major and two minor fields and an advanced research methods course. The dissertation normally consists of three publishable papers, approved by two advisors and an anonymous third reader, with at least one paper free of a faculty coauthor. Funding is concrete: years one and two bring full tuition, health insurance and a nine-month stipend as fellowship, years three through six come with teaching or research assistantships, and paid summer research is offered. A business economics track runs through Sloan. Applications open September 15 and close December 15.

Class Size and Length

20 to 24 students a year, five to six years

Fields

Two major and two minor fields

Dissertation

Three publishable research papers, with one lacking a faculty coauthor

Funding

Fellowship in years one and two, assistantships in years three to six

Program Sources: PhD Program, MIT EconomicsCurriculum and Thesis, MIT Economics

Boston University introduces mathematical and computational economics in the first semester of its PhD and continues econometrics into the second year. Students select two fields, with options including health, financial econometrics, development, and industrial organization. A faculty-advised research paper begins in the second year and is submitted in the third. Later work includes annual workshop presentations and a dissertation proposal seminar supervised by two faculty advisers.

Course Load

16 semester courses (64 credits), with core courses passed by the end of year one at B- or better

Second-Year Paper

Advisor requested by April 1 of year two, paper submitted by October 1 of year three

Fields

Two 2-course fields, each with a B average, plus at least two other courses

STEM Designation

The PhD in Economics is STEM designated

Program Sources: PhD in Economics | Boston University EconomicsPhD in Economics | Boston University Economics

Boston College takes a small doctoral cohort: about 400 applications, up to 10 percent accepted, an incoming class of roughly 15, and a graduate faculty of 32 working with an average cohort of 16 full-time students per year. Requirements are coursework, comprehensive examinations, a dissertation and a one-year residence. The program is classified under CIP 45.0603, so international students on F-1 visas can apply for the 24-month STEM extension of Optional Practical Training. Placement lists show graduates at universities and business schools worldwide, the IMF and World Bank, the Federal Reserve, central banks, and consulting groups.

Applicants and Class

About 400 applications, roughly 15 enrolled

Requirements

Coursework, comprehensive exams, dissertation, one-year residence

STEM Status

CIP 45.0603, eligible for 24-month OPT STEM extension

Program Sources: Graduate Program, Boston College Economics

UMass Amherst offers a STEM-designated economics PhD with a small cohort of about ten students a year, which keeps faculty contact close. The department is known for innovative approaches to the field, and its listed strengths are political economy, development, international economics, economic history, gender and class, labor, comparative economic systems, and growth and distribution. Graduates are recruited by liberal arts and research universities and by the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Economic Policy Institute and labor-union research departments.

Cohort Size

About 10 students a year

Strengths

Political economy, development, labor, economic history, gender and class

STEM Status

STEM-designated PhD

Program Sources: PhD in Economics, UMass Amherst