Best Economics Programs in New York for 2027

Columbia's department runs a general economics major alongside five interdisciplinary ones, among them financial economics, economics-mathematics and economics-political science, so the first decision is which structure fits your goals. Every version moves from Principles through intermediate micro, intermediate macro and econometrics, then finishes with a senior seminar capped at sixteen students or a full-year honors thesis workshop. The general major needs at least 35 points of economics plus calculus and statistics, and at least five lecture courses must be taken in Columbia's department. Students considering a PhD are told early to plan extra math with the advisors.

Majors Offered

General economics plus five interdisciplinary majors

Senior Requirement

Senior seminar of up to 16 students, or a year-long honors seminar with thesis

Residency Rule

At least five lecture courses taken in Columbia economics

Honors

Normally no more than 10% of graduating majors receive departmental honors

Program Sources: Economics, Columbia College Bulletin

Cornell treats the economics major as something you apply to. Before admission you need introductory micro and macro with a B- or better and a C or better in Calculus I. The major itself is twelve economics courses, including intermediate micro and macro, a probability and statistics course, an econometrics course, and at least three at the 4000 level, and the four core courses must be taken at Cornell itself. The department's selective honors program, Econ 4990 and 4991, runs the whole senior year under a faculty advisor, and most honors projects are empirical.

Admission Step

Apply to declare after intro micro, intro macro and Calculus I

Course Count

Twelve economics courses with at least three at the 4000 level

Core Courses

Intermediate micro and macro, probability and statistics, econometrics

Honors

Econ 4990 and 4991, a year-long thesis under a faculty advisor

Program Sources: The Economics Major (A&S Students), Cornell Department of EconomicsHonors and Independent Study, Cornell Department of Economics

NYU asks economics majors to choose between a Theory concentration, for students who want formal economic analysis, and a Policy concentration, which leans on institutions and the link between policy and theory. Joint majors with mathematics and computer science are also available, and a bachelor's/master's pathway exists. Strong students can pursue departmental honors through an honors tutorial and honors thesis, and the department recommends starting the major early enough to finish one 300-level elective first. Faculty strengths named by the department are economic theory, macroeconomics, international economics, and growth and development, and the New York setting feeds internships.

Concentrations

Theory or Policy

Joint Majors

Mathematics and Computer Science

Honors Path

Honors tutorial followed by an honors thesis

Faculty Strengths

Theory, macroeconomics, international economics, growth and development

Program Sources: Undergraduate, NYU Department of Economics

Colgate gives quantitative students two routes. The economics major is nine economics courses plus calculus and statistics prerequisites, with applied econometrics (ECON 375) completing the core and a required senior seminar. The mathematical economics major is heavier: ten economics courses and three math courses, built for students headed to graduate study in economics or quantitative social science. Both count as STEM for the 24-month OPT extension. Honors candidates write a thesis in the year-long ECON 489 and 490 seminar and need a 3.33 average across the three core courses, and the Fed Challenge and London Economics Study Group add applied options.

Majors

Economics, and Mathematical Economics

Core

Intermediate micro and macro plus Applied Econometrics (ECON 375)

Honors

Year-long honors seminar (ECON 489 and 490) with a thesis

Applied Options

College Fed Challenge, London Economics Study Group, VITA tax assistance

Program Sources: Economics Major, Colgate University CatalogMathematical Economics Major, Colgate University Catalog

Buffalo’s economics MA devotes half its coursework to a prescribed core, including two microeconomic theory courses and two econometrics courses. Students take comprehensive examinations in microeconomics and macroeconomics. The other half consists of electives, with approved options for outside-department courses and independent study. Subject choices include health, finance, law, and urban economics. Students can also investigate the department’s advanced certificate or joint law-degree pathway if they want an additional area of specialization.

Core Assessment

Comprehensive examinations in microeconomics and macroeconomics

Elective Flexibility

Approved outside-department study and independent study may count within the elective portion

Program Sources: MA in Economics - Department of Economics - University at Buffalo

Hunter's Economics MA gives you a choice between a supervised thesis and a practicum in empirical analysis. Before that final work, the required curriculum covers microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, linear and nonlinear econometric analysis, and data analytics and research methods. Electives can include approved graduate work in related fields. Courses meet in the evening, which matters if you're balancing study with employment. The department expects prior calculus, econometrics and intermediate theory, so compare your transcript with those prerequisites before applying.

Culminating Choice

Faculty-supervised thesis or practicum in empirical analysis

Methods Sequence

Linear and nonlinear econometrics plus data analytics and research methods

Program Sources: ECON-MA Program | Hunter College CatalogECON-MA Program | Hunter College Catalog

City College's Economics MA offers specializations in Finance, Business Management and Public Economics. Its curriculum combines theory with quantitative work, including programming, microdata and larger datasets. The program uses a cohort model, so you'll study alongside a continuing group of classmates. Applicants can come from another undergraduate major, but the department strongly recommends prior intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, econometrics or suitable statistics, and calculus. That recommended preparation is worth reviewing even if your main interest is the management or public-policy side of economics.

Specializations

Finance, Business Management or Public Economics

Quantitative Practice

Programming, microdata and big data analysis within the cohort curriculum

Program Sources: Economics, Master of Arts | The City College of New York

Columbia adds mathematical methods and a first-year Perspectives course to its theory and econometrics sequences. Perspectives examines economic approaches while introducing the practical design of empirical research. You'll then choose two concentrations and begin presenting your own work in a colloquium. From the third year onward, presentations are required each semester. A third-year paper and a dissertation proposal defended before faculty provide successive research milestones, with the proposal defense due before the end of the fourth year.

Perspectives Course

Critical examination of economic theory and practical empirical research design

Research Milestones

Third-year paper, recurring colloquium presentations and a faculty-reviewed dissertation proposal

Program Sources: Program Description | Department of Economics at Columbia University

Cornell organizes doctoral economics study around a major and at least two minor subjects, with a special committee helping direct your work. Basic analytical economics can serve as one minor after the mathematics and core qualifying requirements are met. Concentrations include health economics, economics of education, economic history and public finance. Research develops through a second-year paper and a third-year paper presented at a research conference. Workshops continue through the later years, alongside the committee's guidance of your dissertation.

Committee Structure

A special committee guides the major and at least two minor subjects

Research Development

Second-year paper followed by a third-year paper and conference presentation

Program Sources: Economics (PhD) | Cornell University

NYU's arts and science Economics PhD combines qualifying examinations in microeconomics and macroeconomics with two fields of specialization. Options include experimental economics, political economy and game theory. Your third year centers on an original paper, faculty advising and a yearlong research workshop. A formal dissertation proposal then becomes the basis of a preliminary oral examination. After faculty approve the completed dissertation, you'll present and defend the results at a public oral examination, giving the research several review stages before graduation.

Specialization

Two economics fields after the theory and econometrics core

Original Research

Third-year paper and research workshop, followed by proposal and final oral examinations

Program Sources: Economics (PhD) | NYU Bulletins