Best Economics Programs in Missouri for 2027

Economics at Washington University carries a STEM classification, and the department offers more than one route into it: a standalone economics major, a combined major in economics and computer science shared with the McKelvey School of Engineering, and a dual major in mathematics and economics. A Financial Economics specialization collects electives for students headed toward finance. Electives run from economic history to advanced econometrics, and especially well-prepared undergraduates can assist faculty research or write a senior thesis. Qualified students can add a one-year accelerated Master of Arts after the BA, and the department strongly encourages study abroad.

Combined Majors

Economics and Computer Science; Mathematics and Economics

Specialization

Financial Economics electives

Accelerated Option

One-year MA after the BA for qualified students

Program Sources: Undergraduate | Department of EconomicsUndergraduate | Department of Economics

Missouri gives economics majors a real choice of degree. The BA suits students who will pair economics with another field, head to law or business school, or go straight to work; its core covers applied econometrics, managerial economics and money, banking and financial markets, followed by fifteen hours of electives. The BS is built for students planning graduate study in economics or finance, with calculus, intermediate micro and macro theory, mathematical economics and twelve hours of complementary courses in STEM or business. Both require a writing-intensive economics course, and accelerated tracks lead from the bachelor's into a master's in economics or public affairs.

Degree Options

BA, applied BS and quantitative BS

BS Complementary Field

12 hours in STEM, business or public affairs courses

Accelerated Paths

BS to MA in Economics; BA or BS to MPA in Public Affairs

Program Sources: Undergraduate Program | Economics | University of MissouriBS in Economics | University of Missouri Academic Catalog

Truman's economics department is small, and it reports that every economics major completes research. The BA path starts with a four-credit seminar for new majors, then intermediate micro and macro theory and a choice between econometrics and a linear regression and time series course. You also pick a history course, American economic history or the history of economic thought, and finish with a four-credit capstone. Twelve elective credits let you steer toward law and economics, natural resources, sustainability, East Asia, cost-benefit analysis or game theory. Study abroad and departmental internships are encouraged, and many students add a second major.

Capstone

Four-credit Economics Capstone (ECON 479)

Elective Range

12 credits including law, sustainability, East Asia and game theory

Math Preparation

Calculus required for the BA

Program Sources: Economics Major | Truman State UniversityProgram: Economics (BA) - Truman State University

Missouri State's economics degrees are STEM-designated, so international students on an F-1 visa can apply for the 24-month OPT extension after graduating. The BA is non-comprehensive: you pair it with a minor or second major outside the College of Business, and its core of intermediate micro and macro theory, a statistics course and applied econometrics also serves as the public affairs capstone. Recommended elective sets point toward business, public administration, graduate school and law school, so you can choose by destination. A comprehensive BS sits alongside the BA, and honors sections of the principles courses are open to qualified students.

Degree Structure

Non-comprehensive BA with minor or second major; comprehensive BS

Capstone

Applied Econometrics (ECO 409) fulfills the public affairs capstone

Elective Orientations

Business, public administration, graduate school and law school

Program Sources: Economics Degree (BS; BA) | STEM-Designated | Missouri StateProgram Requirements | Missouri State University

At Central Missouri, economics sits inside the business college, so the degree is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from an AACSB-accredited program with more free electives than any other business major on campus. That room is meant for tailoring, with courses such as game theory, money and banking, sports economics and natural resource economics. Majors can design experiments in the department's experimental economics lab, join faculty research, and take internships, including Kansas City Federal Reserve tours and placements. The Student Managed Investment Fund and Bloomberg terminals in the Forbes Financial Center add hands-on market practice for students leaning toward finance.

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Warrensburg

Lab Access

Experimental economics lab for student-designed experiments

Electives

More free electives than any other UCM business major

Program Sources: Economics | Bachelor of Science Business Administration | UCMDepartment of Economics and Finance | University of Central Missouri

UMKC teaches the standard micro and macro models alongside institutional and heterodox approaches, and the required theory sequence includes Institutional Economic Theory. The 42-credit major adds econometrics, a math option (calculus, matrix algebra or mathematical economics) and fifteen hours of electives that reach into the political economy of race, class and gender, labor and collective bargaining, law and economics, public finance and an internship. The BS adds twelve credits in related social sciences, psychology, management, science or medicine. The department awards almost $60,000 in scholarships to majors each year and offers a dual BS and MS option.

Distinctive Core

Institutional Economic Theory (ECON 451)

Elective Themes

Labor, political economy of race, class and gender, public finance

Dual Degree

Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Economics

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science: Economics | UMKC Academic CatalogBachelor of Science: Economics | UMKC Academic Catalog

Southeast Missouri State offers economics as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration on its Cape Girardeau campus, taught in the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance. The curriculum pairs economic theory with statistics and quantitative methods so you can analyze markets, public policy and business decisions with data. Small classes mean regular contact with faculty mentors, and study abroad is available in more than 50 locations. Recent graduates have gone to the Federal Reserve Bank, Boeing, Edward Jones and U.S. Bank, and others have continued to graduate programs including MIT, North Carolina State and the University of Iowa.

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, on campus at Cape Girardeau

Study Abroad

Opportunities in more than 50 locations

Graduate Destinations

MIT, North Carolina State, University of Iowa and University of Missouri

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Economics Degree | SEMO

UMSL's economics BS has a defined quantitative spine: intermediate micro and macro theory, introductory econometrics, an economic data and statistics course, and two courses chosen from applied econometrics, time series, forecasting, mathematical economics, geospatial analysis or cost-benefit analysis. Each extra math course used for that choice adds three hours of economics electives. The department recommends calculus through differential equations and linear algebra for students aiming at doctoral study, supports an internship in applied economics, and awards departmental honors at a 3.6 economics GPA. Courses also satisfy actuarial exam requirements, and an undergraduate certificate in applied econometrics and data analysis is available.

Quantitative Electives

Two courses from applied econometrics, time series, forecasting, mathematical economics, geospatial analysis or cost-benefit analysis

Departmental Honors

3.6 GPA in economics plus department recommendation

Related Certificate

Applied Econometrics and Data Analysis Undergraduate Certificate

Program Sources: Economics BS | University of Missouri-St. Louis Bulletin

WashU funds economics doctoral students fully for five years, with a $35,000 annual stipend, a full tuition waiver and health insurance as long as they remain in good standing. The department looks for strong analytical ability in mathematics and statistics, and it offers a three-week math camp (Econ 8001 and 8002) before the first year starts. The program is classified as a federal STEM program, which gives international graduates up to three years of post-graduation work through OPT. Faculty and a placement director work with a student's research advisory committee on the job market, and the program aims at both academic positions and public- and private-sector roles.

Funding

Five years with $35,000 stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance

Math Camp

Three-week Econ 8001 and 8002 before the first year

Placement

Placement director and research advisory committee guide the job market

Program Sources: PhD Program | Department of Economics | WashU

Missouri's economics PhD requires 72 credits for students entering with a bachelor's degree: two-semester sequences in advanced microeconomic theory, advanced macroeconomic theory and econometric theory, a research workshop taken for four consecutive semesters, and two courses in a chosen area of specialization. A written qualifying examination in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics usually comes at the end of the first year. The comprehensive examination arrives around the fourth year and is administered by the dissertation committee, with written and oral parts focused on the student's own research. Students can earn an MA at Missouri along the way.

Credit Requirement

72 credits for students entering with a bachelor's degree

Qualifying Exam

Written micro, macro and econometrics sections after the first year

Research Workshop

Four consecutive semesters of the PhD research workshop

Program Sources: PhD in Economics | University of Missouri Academic Catalog