Best Economics Programs in Michigan for 2027

Michigan's economics concentration builds statistics into the core: you take a two-course sequence of ECON 451 (or STATS 426) followed by ECON 452 on econometrics, so you leave having worked with real data. Students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 can add an honors thesis, which starts in an ECON 495 research seminar and continues into a second semester of revision with a faculty adviser. Recent highest-honors theses looked at demolished houses in Detroit and PFAS contamination in the Michigan housing market. Honors applications are due in early November, so plan ECON 401, 402 and the econometrics sequence early.

Econometrics Sequence

ECON 451 or STATS 426, then ECON 452

Honors Thesis

ECON 495 research seminar, ECON 497 and a two-semester senior thesis; 3.4 GPA recommended

Program Sources: Honors | U-M LSA Department of Economics

Michigan State splits economics into a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science inside the College of Social Science. The BS leans on calculus, statistics and computer science and is aimed at students heading toward graduate training, while the BA keeps the quantitative work lighter. Both share a core of intro and intermediate micro and macro plus EC 420, Introduction to Econometric Methods. Every major also picks one international course, such as International Trade or Economics of Developing Countries, and a writing-designated upper-level class in areas like behavioral economics, law and economics or health care.

Degree Tracks

BA major of 36 or 37 credits; BS major of 30 credits

Required Core

EC 201, 202, 301, 302 and 420 (Introduction to Econometric Methods)

Writing Requirement

One writing-designated upper-level economics course, for example Behavioral Economics or Law and Economics

Program Sources: MSU RO: Academic Programs:Economics | Bachelor of Science

Hillsdale teaches economics through the Austrian tradition. Majors study neoclassical and Austrian microeconomics alongside Keynesian and monetarist macroeconomics, and the department puts particular weight on Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek. The major is 39 semester hours in economics plus Calculus I, with a two-course History of Economic Thought sequence in junior year and 18 more hours of upper-level electives. It suits students who want to argue the schools of thought against each other and may be heading to law school or a doctoral program.

Required Core

Principles of Micro and Macro, Business and Economics Statistics, Intermediate Micro and Macro

Distinctive Sequence

History of Economic Thought I and II, plus 18 upper-level credit hours

Program Sources: Economics Major and Minor Requirements | Hillsdale College

Western Michigan lets you take economics as a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Business Administration, so you can match the degree to a policy, quantitative or business path. Some of its economics fields are STEM-designated, which matters for international students weighing work authorization after graduation. Strong majors can start an accelerated master's in applied economics as seniors, applying up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework to both degrees. Eligibility includes a 3.5 undergraduate GPA and a B or better in Calculus (MATH 1220).

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Business Administration

Accelerated Master's

Up to 12 graduate credit hours shared with the bachelor's; 3.5 GPA required

Program Sources: Economics majors | Economics | Western Michigan University

Central Michigan's economics major sits in the College of Business Administration and can be earned on a B.A. or a B.S. It runs 36 to 37 semester hours: six required economics courses that include Money and Banking, Intermediate Micro and Macro and International Economics, one math course (College Algebra, Calculus I or Business Calculus), one statistics course and 12 hours of electives. The department tells students to finish the math and statistics early because Calculus I is a prerequisite for the statistics class. Up to six hours may be taken credit/no credit.

Required Courses

ECO 201, 202, 306, 365, 370 and 372

Quantitative Prep

One math course and one statistics course, taken early

Program Sources: CMU Bulletins - Economics Major, B.A.; B.S.

Oakland University offers three separate undergraduate routes into economics, and the differences are about how much business and quantitative work you want. The BS in Business Economics sits in the School of Business Administration with a broad business core and suits quantitative students considering an MBA. The BS in Economics has no set business core and is pitched as strong preparation for law school. The BA in Economics is offered jointly with the College of Arts and Sciences as a liberal arts degree, described as the least quantitative of the three, with College of Arts and Sciences exploratory requirements.

Business Economics BS

Economics with a business core, suited to students who are strong in quantitative courses and considering an MBA

Economics BS

No set business core, with some business courses, and preparation for law school

Economics BA

Liberal arts degree offered jointly with the College of Arts and Sciences, the least quantitative option

Program Sources: Economics | School of Business Administration | Oakland UniversityEconomics | School of Business Administration | Oakland University

Wayne State's Economics MA is a stand-alone professional degree in Detroit, built for people who will work as applied economists rather than research academics. Many students hold jobs, so the department schedules all core courses and many electives in the evening. The degree is 32 credits, and engineers, scientists and health professionals with strong math can finish in as few as eight to eleven courses. The department says it is not a stepping stone to the PhD, which has a separate and more competitive application. The MA is self-funded, with no assistantships.

Format

Evening core courses; 32 credits

Funding

Self-funded; no assistantships for MA students

Program Sources: Master of Arts in Economics | Economics | Wayne State University

Michigan describes its economics PhD as a full-service department, with fields from econometrics, macro and finance to industrial organization, labor, development and natural resources. Students can work with faculty in the Ford School of Public Policy, the School of Public Health, the Institute for Social Research, the Ross School of Business and the School of Information. Applicants need calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and probability and statistics, and the department weighs grades in those courses heavily. The department also notes that every doctoral graduate for decades has gone on to work as a professional economist.

Fields Offered

Theory, econometrics, macro, finance, history, international, development, public finance, IO, labor, natural resources

Math Preparation

Calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, probability and statistics

Program Sources: Doctoral Program | U-M LSA Department of Economics

Michigan State's economics PhD is designated a STEM program, which lets international graduates request an extension of optional practical training. The department keeps field classes small and promises at least one course each year in its nine primary fields: microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, development, econometrics, environmental and resource, industrial organization, international trade, labor and public. Students also work in aging, behavioral, education and health. Every admitted student is considered for funding automatically, and in recent years all admitted students received some form of support.

Primary Fields

Micro theory, macro, development, econometrics, environmental and resource, IO, international trade, labor, public

Funding

All admitted students considered automatically for fellowships and assistantships

Program Sources: PhD Programs | Economics | Michigan State University

Wayne State's economics PhD is a 90-credit program, 60 credits of coursework and 30 of dissertation research. Students pass sequences in mathematics for economists, micro and macro theory and quantitative methods, then specialize in two of health economics, labor and human resources, or industrial organization. Candidacy comes through written and oral qualifying exams plus an approved dissertation outline. A limited number of assistantships cover tuition, stipend and health insurance, and funded students are supported for four years while making satisfactory progress.

Credit Structure

90 credits: 60 coursework plus 30 dissertation research

Specializations

Health economics; applied microeconomics (industrial organization, labor and human resources)

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Economics | Economics | Wayne State University