10 Best Online MBA in Economics Programs 2027

Economics sits underneath every business decision you’ll ever make, from how you price a product to whether now is the right time to expand. Most Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs give you a single managerial economics course and move on. A smaller group of schools lets you go deeper, pairing the full business core with graduate coursework in micro and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, international trade, or regional development. If you want to understand why markets behave the way they do rather than just reacting to them, that depth is worth seeking out.

Economics is one of the less common MBA focus areas, which means the options are scattered across the country and vary quite a bit in how they’re structured. Some schools offer a formal economics concentration, others a track or emphasis you build through electives, and a few have designed the entire degree around economic analysis. Below, you’ll find 10 of the best online MBAs in economics available right now, chosen for their accreditation, flexibility, and the substance behind the economics coursework itself.

What Is an Online MBA in Economics?

An online MBA in economics is a graduate business degree delivered primarily or entirely over the internet, combining the standard MBA core with focused study in economic theory and analysis. You’ll still take accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy alongside every other MBA student. The difference is where your electives go: instead of spreading them across general business topics, you’ll direct them toward economics.

The MBA is a master’s-level degree, and economics shows up within it as a concentration, specialization, emphasis, or track depending on the school. Most programs build the focus from three to four graduate courses, typically nine to 12 credits. You’ll also see related variations worth considering, including applied economics, economic development, agricultural economics, behavioral economics, and policy-oriented options that blend economics with data analysis. Overall program length usually runs between 30 and 48 credits.

Coursework varies with the angle a program takes, but common subjects include managerial economics, intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics and quantitative methods, international trade and the global economic environment, money and capital markets, and cost-benefit analysis. Programs with a development focus add courses in local and regional economic planning, municipal finance, and policy evaluation. Nearly every program closes with a capstone or strategic management course that asks you to pull the economics and the business core together on a single problem.

Best Online MBAs in Economics

The programs below span a wide range of approaches to economics, from applied theory and econometrics to regional development and agricultural markets. Each one is accredited, available online, and built so you can keep working while you earn the degree. 

1. Bethel University

Bethel University sits in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has held continuous accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1959, with its MBA separately accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The 42-credit degree can be completed fully online or in a blended format at the St. Paul campus, with new courses starting every six weeks and most students finishing in 18 to 24 months.

What sets Bethel apart is how it handles the economics focus. The Data, Economics, and Design of Policy concentration is fulfilled through the MITx MicroMasters program of the same name, a series of graduate-level courses taught by MIT faculty covering microeconomics, development economics, and probability and statistics. Bethel accepts the completed certificate as 12 credits toward the MBA.

2. Colorado Christian University

If you want economics to be the explicit center of your degree rather than a set of electives, Colorado Christian University’s MBA with an emphasis in economics is worth a look. Based in Lakewood, Colorado, CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and its College of Adult and Graduate Studies delivers the 39-credit program 100% online with no campus requirement. Courses run one at a time in five-week blocks, and motivated students can finish in as little as 18 months.

The emphasis is built on four substantive economics courses: intermediate economic theory, intermediate macroeconomic theory, economic development, and international political economy. CCU integrates a Christian worldview throughout the curriculum, and the GMAT is not required for admission.

3. Idaho State University

Idaho’s first MBA program still runs out of the College of Business at Idaho State University in Pocatello, where it carries accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a distinction held by a small share of business schools worldwide. You can complete the degree online, though the format mixes asynchronous and synchronous coursework, and full-time students can finish in a single year. Several dual degree options are also available.

The curriculum moves through two core sequences before opening up to three electives, and economics is one of eight emphasis areas you can direct those electives toward. An applied economics course anchors the foundational core, so you’ll build quantitative footing before layering on the emphasis coursework. An advisor builds your plan of study around your background once you’re admitted.

4. John Carroll University

The Boler College of Business at John Carroll University, located in University Heights, Ohio, holds AACSB dual accreditation in both business and accountancy, placing it in the top 2% of business schools globally. Its MBA runs 100% online with evening and asynchronous classes, and you can move through it in anywhere from 12 to 36 months depending on your pace.

Economics is one of nine concentrations you can build toward using the program’s two general electives, alongside options like finance, international business, and nonprofit administration. The online curriculum is identical to the on-campus version, right down to the managerial economics course in the core. Foundational prerequisites in economics, accounting, analytics, and finance can be waived if you covered that ground as an undergraduate.

5. Longwood University

Longwood University’s College of Business and Economics, in Farmville, Virginia, delivers one of the shortest programs on this list: a 31-credit online MBA that some students complete in as few as 10 months. The college is accredited by AACSB, and the program runs entirely online in accelerated seven-week terms with multiple start dates each year.

The economics track builds on a managerial economics core course, then adds electives in macroeconomics for managers and data analytics. You’ll work through business cycles, demand forecasting, fiscal and monetary policy, and indicators like GDP, unemployment, and inflation, with a capstone in strategic management tying it together. Graduates often target roles in pricing analysis, economic forecasting, and market research.

6. Mount St. Mary’s University

Flexibility is the organizing idea behind the online MBA at Mount St. Mary’s University, a Catholic institution with campuses in Emmitsburg and Frederick, Maryland. The 36-credit program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and runs through the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business in eight-week sessions, with fully asynchronous and synchronous options and the ability to finish in one to two years.

Economics is one of seven concentrations offered, and you earn it by taking two electives in the area on top of the required core, without extending your time in the program. Core coursework covers global and business economics, financial reporting and control, strategic marketing, and business ethics. Students can also stack a graduate certificate onto the degree without adding courses.

7. Murray State University

Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, houses one of the longer continuous AACSB accreditation records on this list: its Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business has held the credential since 1981. The online MBA runs 30 credits in accelerated seven-week terms, with no GMAT required for qualified applicants and completion possible in as few as 16 months.

The economic development concentration is the most community-focused option here, built around nine credits in local economic development process and methods, economic development finance, and cost-benefit analysis. Students also gain access to the university’s Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development. Two free, self-paced prerequisite courses in accounting and economics are built into the program and can be taken alongside your core coursework.

8. Northwest Missouri State University

For anyone whose career runs through agriculture, Northwest Missouri State University offers something few business schools do. Based in Maryville, Missouri, Northwest holds accreditation for its business programs from ACBSP and delivers a 30-credit online MBA in agricultural economics in seven-week terms, with most students finishing in 12 to 18 months.

Nine hours of concentration coursework cover agricultural resource economics, international trade in agriculture, and data analysis in agriculture, layered onto a 21-hour advanced core that includes macroeconomics for business managers and business decision analysis tools. Graduates move into roles like agricultural operations director, market analyst, and policy analyst. Applicants without an undergraduate business degree complete a foundation course before starting graduate coursework.

9. Penn State World Campus

Few online MBAs offer the sheer range of Penn State World Campus, which gives students more than 30 concentrations to choose from. The program is led by the Smeal College of Business, accredited by AACSB, and runs 100% online across 48 credits: 39 in the core and nine in your concentration. No GRE or GMAT scores are required or accepted.

The community and economic development concentration draws from Penn State’s CEDEV coursework, with options in principles of local economic development, population and land use and municipal finance, planning practice, and entrepreneurship in the community. The MBA core includes an economics for business strategy course covering market structures and competitive strategy. An optional global immersion experience is available each spring.

10. Troy University

Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business, based in Troy, Alabama, is one of fewer than 200 business colleges worldwide to hold AACSB dual accreditation in both business and accounting. Its flexible MBA runs in nine-week terms and can be completed entirely online, in as little as one year full-time or 18 to 24 months part-time. The format is built with working professionals and active-duty military in mind, so you can take a term off without reapplying.

The applied economics concentration combines the global business core with two graduate economics courses and one graduate finance course, developing the analytical tools to read economic trends and evaluate financial conditions. Troy offers 12 other concentrations as well, from artificial intelligence to public administration, all available through TROY Online.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university.

Economics is a less common MBA focus than fields like finance or marketing, so a general ranking of online MBAs will only get you so far here. We looked specifically at whether a program offers a genuine, named economics pathway rather than a loose collection of electives, and whether the coursework behind it has real substance. The criteria below reflect what matters most when evaluating an online MBA in economics:

• Accreditation: We prioritize institutionally accredited universities whose business programs hold accreditation from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE, ensuring the degree carries recognized value with employers and other institutions.
• Online availability: Programs must deliver the economics pathway online, not just the core curriculum, with flexible or asynchronous coursework that lets you finish without relocating or pausing your career.
• Career alignment: We consider how directly the economics coursework maps to the roles graduates actually pursue, whether that’s pricing analysis, economic development, policy work, or corporate strategy.
• Student outcomes: We look at indicators like graduation rates, reported salary outcomes, and program reputation to identify schools that deliver strong long-term value for the cost of the degree.

Learn more about our ranking methodology. 

What Will You Learn in an MBA in Economics Program?

An MBA in economics teaches you to read the forces acting on a business from the outside, then make decisions accordingly. You’ll build the same broad business fluency any MBA gives you, but with sharper tools for analyzing demand, pricing, competition, and the macroeconomic conditions your organization operates in. Common areas of study include:

• Managerial economics: Applying economic models to real business decisions, including demand analysis, elasticity, cost structures, pricing strategy, and competitive behavior across different market structures.
• Macroeconomic analysis: Understanding business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy, inflation, unemployment, and GDP, and translating those indicators into better strategic timing.
• Quantitative methods and econometrics: Using regression analysis, forecasting, and statistical techniques to test relationships in data and support decisions with evidence rather than instinct.
• International trade and the global economy: Examining comparative advantage, trade policy, exchange rate movement, and how global conditions shape domestic business strategy.
• Financial markets and capital: Studying how money and capital markets function, how institutions respond to policy shifts, and what that means for financing decisions.
• Economic development and policy: Evaluating development models, municipal finance, cost-benefit analysis, and the planning tools used in public and nonprofit settings.

Alongside the economics, you’ll take the standard MBA core in accounting, finance, marketing, operations, leadership, and ethics. Most programs end with a capstone or strategic management course that asks you to integrate the economic analysis with the rest of the business picture on a single applied problem.

How Long Does it Take to Earn an MBA in Economics Online?

Most online MBAs in economics take between one and three years, depending on credit load and whether you enroll full-time or part-time. Accelerated programs built around seven- or eight-week terms move fastest, and several schools on this list advertise completion in 10 to 18 months for students taking a steady course load. Part-time students balancing a full-time job more often land in the two- to three-year range.

Credit requirements drive much of that variation. Economics-focused MBAs generally run from about 30 credits on the lower end to roughly 48 on the higher end, with the economics concentration itself usually accounting for nine to 12 of those credits. Programs that let you earn the concentration through electives you’d be taking anyway won’t add time to your degree, while those requiring separate coursework may.

Your academic background matters too. Many programs ask students without an undergraduate business degree to complete foundational coursework in accounting, economics, statistics, or finance before starting the core. Some schools waive these based on prior coursework, others fold them in as free self-paced modules you can take concurrently, and a few add them as credits up front, which can extend your timeline by a term or two.

How Much Does an Online MBA in Economics Cost?

Costs vary widely across schools, with public universities generally charging the lowest per-credit rates and private or highly ranked programs commanding a premium. Tuition is usually assessed per credit hour, so your total depends heavily on how many credits the program requires and whether you qualify for in-state rates at a public institution. A 30-credit program at a regional public university and a 48-credit program at a flagship business school can differ by a factor of several.

Beyond tuition, budget for application fees, technology or per-course fees, and textbooks. Economics coursework sometimes calls for statistical software, and a few programs note that specific concentration courses require particular operating systems, so it’s worth checking technical requirements before you enroll. Programs with optional residencies or global immersion trips charge separately for travel.

One cost worth asking about directly: prerequisite coursework. If you’re coming from a non-business background, foundational courses may be included free, offered at a nominal per-course rate, or charged at full tuition. That difference can add up to a meaningful amount, and it’s not always obvious from the advertised program total.

Financial Aid for Online MBAs in Economics

Paying for an online MBA usually means combining a few funding sources rather than relying on one. Here’s what’s typically available:

• Federal student aid: Complete the FAFSA to see what federal loans you qualify for, even if you don’t expect need-based grants at the graduate level. Note that some program components, like MicroMasters coursework completed through an outside provider, may not be aid-eligible.
• Employer tuition assistance: Many employers reimburse part or all of a graduate business degree, especially when the coursework ties directly to your current role. Analytics and economics coursework often makes an easy case here.
• Scholarships and fellowships: Many schools offer merit-based awards for MBA students, and some are granted automatically based on your application without a separate submission.
• Graduate assistantships: Some programs offer assistantship positions that provide a tuition discount or stipend in exchange for research or teaching support, though these are less common in fully online programs and may require GMAT or GRE scores.
• Military and veteran benefits: Programs accepting military benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program funding, or Tuition Assistance can significantly reduce costs for eligible service members, veterans, and dependents. Several schools on this list also offer flat military tuition rates.
• Institutional payment plans: Many schools let you pay by the course or spread payments across a term rather than paying in a lump sum, which eases cash flow even without reducing total cost.

How To Choose the Right MBA in Economics

With economics-focused MBAs scattered across a relatively small group of schools, the right fit comes down to a handful of factors that matter more than overall prestige.

Accreditation

Institutional accreditation confirms the university meets baseline academic standards, while programmatic accreditation from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE confirms the business program specifically meets a higher bar for curriculum and faculty quality. Both matter, since a gap in either can limit how your degree is viewed by employers or by other graduate programs if you later pursue a doctorate.

Depth of the Economics Coursework

This is where programs differ most. Look at the actual course list behind the concentration, not just its name. Some programs build the focus from graduate economic theory and econometrics, while others assemble it from applied electives that touch economics more lightly. Neither is wrong, but a program with intermediate micro and macro theory will prepare you differently than one centered on applied forecasting or regional planning.

The Type of Economics You Want

Economics MBAs come in distinct flavors: applied and theoretical, development-oriented, agricultural, behavioral, and policy-focused. A program built around local economic development will serve a future city planner well and a pricing analyst poorly. Decide which direction you’re heading before you compare schools, because the right answer depends almost entirely on where you want to land.

Format and Flexibility

Programs range from fully asynchronous and self-paced to formats that mix in synchronous sessions or occasional residencies. Consider how much structure you need to stay on track, whether accelerated seven- or eight-week terms suit how you learn, and whether any in-person elements are realistic given your job and personal obligations.

Prerequisites and Your Background

Economics coursework is quantitative, and programs handle non-business backgrounds differently. Some waive foundational courses based on your transcript, others require them, and a few build them in free of charge. If your undergraduate degree is outside business or economics, ask early what you’ll need to complete, what it costs, and whether it extends your timeline.

Cost and Return on Investment

Total cost varies enormously, so weigh tuition against what you can reasonably expect to earn in your target field and region. A less expensive, regionally strong program can deliver a better return than a prestigious, high-cost one, depending on your goals and where you plan to work.

Career Outlook With an Online MBA in Economics

An MBA in economics points toward analytical and strategic roles across business, government, and consulting, many of which carry strong earning potential.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), economists earned a median annual wage of $124,720 in May 2025, and employment in the field is projected to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 1,100 openings projected each year. The BLS notes that economists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation, which makes graduate-level economics coursework meaningful rather than optional for that path. 

Several adjacent roles are larger fields with more openings. Management analysts, often called management consultants, earned a median of $101,860 in May 2025, with employment projected to grow 10% through 2035, much faster than average, and roughly 94,100 openings each year. The BLS notes that some employers prefer candidates with an MBA for these positions.

On the finance side, financial analysts saw a median wage of $103,570 in May 2025, with 7% projected growth through 2035 and about 29,500 openings annually. Financial risk specialists, a subset of that group, earned a median of $117,330. Market research analysts earned a median of $78,760 with 7% projected growth and roughly 82,000 openings each year, and the BLS notes that some employers require or prefer a master’s degree, particularly for leadership roles or more technical research. 

Pay and growth vary meaningfully by role, industry, and location, so the specific path you pursue matters as much as the degree itself. What the economics focus adds is the quantitative and analytical footing these roles increasingly expect.

FAQs About the Best Online MBAs in Economics

A few questions come up often for prospective students weighing an economics-focused MBA against other graduate options.

Is an Online MBA in Economics Worth It?

For most people targeting analytical or leadership roles, yes. The degree gives you the same broad business credential employers expect for management positions, plus a quantitative edge that general MBA graduates don’t have. Whether it’s worth it for you specifically depends on program cost relative to your expected salary increase and how directly the economics coursework maps to where you want to go. If you’re aiming at pricing, forecasting, consulting, or economic development work, that extra depth tends to pay for itself. If you want a general management credential and nothing more, a less specialized MBA may serve you just as well for less effort.

Is an Online MBA in Economics Respected by Employers?

Yes, as long as the program carries proper accreditation. Employers generally focus on whether a school holds institutional accreditation and business-specific accreditation from a body like AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE, rather than whether the degree was earned online or on campus. Most diplomas don’t distinguish between formats at all. Online MBA enrollment has grown substantially over the past decade, and hiring managers now typically view an accredited online degree the same way they’d view one earned in person. What gets noticed is the coursework behind it, so be ready to talk about the specific economics work you did.

Who Should Consider an MBA in Economics Program?

This degree fits professionals who already work with numbers and want to lead rather than just analyze. Pricing analysts, financial analysts, consultants, and business strategists often use it to move into management without giving up their technical edge. It also suits people working in or moving toward government, economic development agencies, nonprofits, and international organizations, where economic reasoning is central to the work. Because most programs value professional experience in admissions, the degree tends to deliver the most value to people who’ve spent a few years in the workforce and have a clear sense of which economic questions they want to get better at answering.

What’s the Difference Between an MBA in Economics and a Master’s in Economics?

The two degrees aim at different careers. A Master of Science or Master of Arts in economics is a specialist degree built around economic theory, econometrics, and research methods, often serving as preparation for doctoral study or for a career as a working economist. An MBA in economics is a management degree first. You’ll take the full business core in accounting, finance, marketing, operations, and strategy, then add three or four economics courses on top. Choose the MS if you want to be an economist. Choose the MBA if you want to run a business function and bring stronger economic reasoning to it.

Do You Need a Background in Economics or Math to Apply?

Usually not. Most programs on this list accept applicants from a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds and build in foundational coursework for people coming from outside business. Where a background does matter is in a few of the more quantitative tracks, which may expect prior work in intermediate micro and macroeconomics or ask you to complete prerequisites in accounting, economics, statistics, and finance first. Some schools waive these based on your transcript, others fold them in as free self-paced modules. It’s worth asking an admissions advisor directly, since this detail varies more than almost anything else between programs.

Do Online MBA Programs in Economics Require the GMAT or GRE?

Often not, though it depends on the school. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants who meet certain criteria, such as a few years of professional experience, a strong undergraduate GPA, or an existing graduate degree, and a growing number don’t require test scores at all. A couple of schools on this list accept scores but don’t require them, and at least one asks for the GMAT or GRE only if you’re seeking a graduate assistantship. Policies change from year to year, so check each program’s current requirements directly.

Explore Online MBAs in Economics

Choosing the right online MBA in economics comes down to matching a program’s accreditation, format, and economics coursework to where you actually want your career to go, not just chasing the biggest name on the list. Browse business school resources on Learn.org and reach out to individual programs directly to learn more about admissions, cost, prerequisites, and what a specific degree could mean for your career.