Business Economics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Business Economics equips students with a rigorous analytical foundation to understand how economic principles shape business decision-making, market dynamics, and organizational performance. This interdisciplinary program integrates core economic theory with practical applications in corporate strategy, financial management, and market behavior, preparing graduates to evaluate complex business challenges through a quantitative and evidence-based lens.
- Monetary Theory: Explores the role of money, inflation, and interest rates in influencing economic activity and business investment decisions.
- Banking and Financial Systems: Examines the structure, function, and regulatory frameworks of financial institutions and capital markets.
- Theory of Competition: Analyzes market structures and competitive strategies across industries, including oligopolies, monopolistic competition, and market entry barriers.
- Pricing Theory: Investigates how firms determine optimal pricing strategies based on demand elasticity, cost structures, and competitive positioning.
- Wage and Salary/Incentive Theory: Studies the design of compensation systems and incentive mechanisms to align employee behavior with organizational objectives.
- Market Analysis: Develops skills in assessing market trends, consumer behavior, and industry competitiveness using both qualitative and quantitative tools.
- Econometrics and Quantitative Methods: Applies statistical and mathematical models to analyze business data, forecast outcomes, and evaluate policy or strategic initiatives.
Business Economics Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Business Economics Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Business Economics degrees, including Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, Economists and Financial Risk Specialists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 986,240 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1063 | $119,980 | $57,550 - $217,160 | 12,420 | N/A |
| Economists 19-3011 | $115,440 | $62,340 - $212,710 | 15,880 | $55.50 |
| Financial Risk Specialists 13-2054 | $106,000 | $62,270 - $182,310 | 56,320 | $50.96 |
| Management Analysts 13-1111 | $101,190 | $59,720 - $174,140 | 893,900 | $48.65 |
| Survey Researchers 19-3022 | $63,380 | $36,950 - $118,730 | 7,720 | $30.47 |
Business Economics Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $71,535 in North Dakota to $126,790 in District of Columbia—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 986,240 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Business Economics by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Business Economics programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Business Economics is found at University of California (UCI), Irvine (493 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (306 graduates), University of Georgia (UGA) (195 graduates), South Dakota State University (SDSU) (155 graduates), and SUNY Oneonta (135 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,157 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
493 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
306 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
195 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
155 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
135 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
106 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
92 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
80 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Bachelor's
|
71 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
66 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
64 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Westmont College |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Santa Barbara, California | Private | westmont.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
52 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Chapman University |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Orange, California | Private | chapman.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Hampden-Sydney College (H‑SC) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Hampden-Sydney, Virginia | Private | hsc.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
42 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Allegheny College |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Meadville, Pennsylvania | Private | allegheny.edu |
| Wofford College |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | wofford.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Bentley University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | bentley.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| Loyola University Maryland |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | loyola.edu |
| Harvard University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Coastal Carolina University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | coastal.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU Pueblo) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Pueblo, Colorado | Public | csupueblo.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| University of Southern Mississippi (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Public | usm.edu |
| Union College |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Schenectady, New York | Private | union.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Patrick Henry College (PHC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Purcellville, Virginia | Private | phc.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Greensboro College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Private | greensboro.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Francis Marion University (FMU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Florence, South Carolina | Public | fmarion.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| Virginia State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Petersburg, Virginia | Public | vsu.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Berry College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Mount Berry, Georgia | Private | berry.edu |
| Benedictine University (BenU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | ben.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Business Economics programs
How much can I earn with a Business Economics degree?
Salaries for Business Economics graduates vary by role and location. Economics Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $119,980 annually, while Economists earn around $115,440. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $126,790 compared to $71,535 in North Dakota. Approximately 986,240 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Business Economics programs?
Currently 193 accredited institutions offer Business Economics degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCI), Irvine (493 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (306 graduates), and University of Georgia (UGA) (195 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Business Economics growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,941 in 2010 to a peak of 6,171 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,583 in 2023-24. This represents a 23% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Business Economics degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Economics Teachers, Postsecondary, Economists, and Financial Risk Specialists. Related occupations employ approximately 986,240 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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