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Economic analyst education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an economic analyst. Economic analysts usually study economics, business, or finance. 71% of economic analysts hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 845 real economic analyst resumes to see exactly what economic analyst education sections show.
The most common colleges for economic analysts are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.
There are also many online economic analyst courses to help get the education required to be an economic analyst.
There are certain economic analyst certifications that you should consider. These economic analyst certifications include Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
What education do you need to become an economic analyst?
What degree do you need to be an economic analyst?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Master's, 23%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Associate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an economic analyst?
- Economics, 40%
- Business, 16%
- Finance, 11%
- Accounting, 4%
- Other Majors, 29%
Most common colleges for economic analysts
| Economic analyst common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of California - Davis | 9.38% |
| Florida State University | 8.59% |
| New York University | 5.47% |
| Texas A&M University | 5.47% |
| University of Texas at Austin | 5.47% |
Best majors for economic analysts
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Economics | 40.4% |
| 2 | Business | 16.3% |
| 3 | Finance | 11.1% |
| 4 | Accounting | 4.4% |
| 5 | Mathematics | 4.0% |
Best colleges for economic analysts
The best colleges for economic analysts are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt University.
An economic analyst with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for economic analysts. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become economic analysts.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$53,391
Enrollment
8,568
9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
20 best online courses for economic analysts
Advertising disclosure
1. The Economics of AI
The course introduces you to cutting-edge research in the economics of AI and the implications for economic growth and labor markets. We start by analyzing the nature of intelligence and information theory. Then we connect our analysis to modeling production and technological change in economics, and how these processes are affected by AI. Next we turn to how technological change drives aggregate economic growth, covering a range of scenarios including a potential growth singularity. We also...
2. Introduction to Economic Theories
Wondering why economists have not predicted serious financial crises? Shocked by economic assumptions of human behavior as self-centered and focusing only on what can be measured? Asking yourself if there are no sensible economic alternatives to free markets? Then you are at the right place to learn economics! This is the first online course that teaches economics from a pluralist perspective. Economic pluralism means that a plurality of theoretical and methodological viewpoints is regarded as...
3. Econ 101: The Complete Intro to Economics For Beginners
Economics 101: Economics Made Easy For You! Become an Economics Pro With This Course...
4. Economics: Market Forces of Demand, Supply and Equilibrium
Economics: Analyzing Demand, Supply and Market Equilibrium with real life case studies...
5. Earth Economics
After this course you will be an Earth Economist that can provide evidence-based advise on the best global policy. As an Earth Economist you will better understand the behavior and advice of economists, have become a better economist yourself and know where to find Earth's data and how to analyze these world observations. Our planet is too important: we need you to get engaged! Earth Economics offers a completely new angle to policy analysis by its focus on the truly global level and its...
6. The Art and Science of Economic Policy
Economic policy affects every citizen. And economic policymaking is best done as a collaborative process with a wide range of stakeholders. This course brings an understanding of the relevance and impacts of economic policymaking in everyday life, and the ways for citizens to be involved in shaping economic policy, in an accessible and interesting manner. Taught by Dr. Vijay Kelkar and Dr. Ajay Shah, along with Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS, the course synthesises more than one hundred years of...
7. The economic model of emerging countries - Michael Spence
Understanding Economics. Learn how the world works and why it is the way it it...
8. (Oxford) Master Diploma: Economics (Includes Macro/Micro)
NINETY HOURS : Micro/Macro/Global/Business/Behavioural Economics...
9. Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis
Learn how to model social and economic networks and their impact on human behavior. How do networks form, why do they exhibit certain patterns, and how does their structure impact diffusion, learning, and other behaviors? We will bring together models and techniques from economics, sociology, math, physics, statistics and computer science to answer these questions. The course begins with some empirical background on social and economic networks, and an overview of concepts used to describe and...
10. China’s Economic Transformation Part 1: Economic Reform and Growth in China
In 1978, after nearly 30 years of socialist planning under Mao Zedong, China was one of the world’s poorest countries, saddled with an inefficient, inward-looking economy. Today, China is an upper-middle income country and the world’s largest trading nation, contributing more to global economic growth than any other nation. How could such a remarkable transformation take place? This course will examine in detail the reforms that have contributed to China’s economic development and the current...
11. Economics Decoded: 10 Essential Principles Shaping Our World
Master the application of 10 core economics principles to make informed decisions in both professional and personal life...
12. Macroeconomics: A Comprehensive Economics Course
A Course Designed to Give You a Better Understanding of the World Around You--Perfect for University and Adult Learners!...
13. Managerial Economics and Business Analysis
In the exceedingly fast-paced business world, growing business demands a clear grasp of how a firm obtains a competitive advantage in its operations, how the business cycle and monetary policies impact the firm’s ability to maximize shareholders’ wealth, and how to obtain and efficiently use data to develop actionable business strategies. The Managerial Economics and Business Analytics Specialization is targeted towards aspiring managers, senior managers, and business executives who wish to...
14. Profit Analysis using Economic Value Added
In this 1-hour long project-based course, you will learn how to calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital, calculate capital invested, finance charge, and NOPAT, and use financial statements to calculate Economic Value Added. Economic Value Added is one of the most critical metrics in financial modeling and analysis and is used to measure the profitability of the projects and management performance. Note: This course works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We're...
15. Microeconomics: A Comprehensive Economics Course
A Course Designed to Give You a Better Understanding of the World Around You--Perfect for University and Adult Learners!...
16. Economics: Behavior of Buyers and Sellers & Product Pricing
The Easiest Beginner level Course on Economics with real life examples and graphic content. Perfect for Newbies!...
17. Doing Economics: Measuring Climate Change
This course will give you practical experience in working with real-world data, with applications to important policy issues in today’s society. Each week, you will learn specific data handling skills in Excel and use these techniques to analyse climate change data, with appropriate readings to provide background information on the data you are working with. You will also learn about the consequences of climate change and how governments can address this issue. After completing this course, you...
18. Globalization, Economic Growth and Stability
This Specialization aims to make economic concepts accessible to every learner, and to teach them to analyze current events using the toolkit of economics. It begins by explaining the basic parameters of the macroeconomy, and how governments can/should use both fiscal and monetary policy to influence growth, inflation and employment. It then moves on to the international arena, where countries interact, and explains the basic principles of free trade, exchange rates, the balance of payments and...
19. Economics: Mastering Microeconomics 101
A comprehensive study aid for anyone studying economics...
20. Introduction to Behavioral Economics & Consumer Psychology
Learn how to apply some of the most powerful principles from consumer psychology to increase conversions...
Top 10 most affordable universities for economic analysts
The most affordable schools for economic analysts are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for economic analysts are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for economic analysts.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
6. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for economic analysts
The hardest universities for economic analysts to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for economic analysts are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for economic analysts based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for economic analysts
The easiest schools for economic analysts to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an economic analyst without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for economic analysts.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
4. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
5. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
1,012
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
8. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
9. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
10. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
Average economic analyst salary by education level
| Economic analyst education level | Economic analyst salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $81,823 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $71,887 |
| Doctorate Degree | $94,421 |
Economic analyst education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025