distance phd economics

Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2025

We rank the best online PhD degree programs in economics.

Key Takeaways

• The PhD in economics degree is a highly prestigious and advanced degree that leads to many professional opportunities.
• Earning an economics doctorate can qualify you to become an economist with influence in public policy, post-secondary education, or research.
• Only a select few accredited graduate schools offer an online economics PhD or related studies.

Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs in 2025

Hampton university, liberty university, baker college, 2025 ranking update.

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the schools in our ranking of the best online economics PhD degree programs saw no change in ranking positions.

Featured Programs

The best online economics doctorates (phds).

The online PhD in economics programs identified here are ranked based on influence, with weighting for graduation rate and full-time online enrollment. Also included are online Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) degrees courses focused on economics and related topics.

Last Year’s Ranking:

• #4 Best Small Colleges in Virginia 2025
• #7 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2025
• #7 Best Grad Schools in Virginia 2025
• #1 Best Online Associate in Biblical Studies
• #2 Best Online Associate in Business Management
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• #4 Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2024
• #5 Best HBCU Online Programs
• #5 Best Online Master's Programs in Virginia 2025
• #5 Top 15 Fastest Accelerated Online Counseling Doctorates (PhDs)
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• #8 Best Online Associate in General Studies
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• #25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree Programs 2025
• #5 10 Best Accelerated Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2025
• #16 Best Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Tuition + fees

Student body

Median SAT/ACT

What do we love about Hampton University?

Hampton University is a private HBCU based in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 by a joint commission of Black and White leaders, Hampton was established with the mission of educating freedmen in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. Civil War.

Today, Hampton University is home to 16 leading research facilities, including the largest free-standing Proton Therapy Institute in the world.

Among its numerous post-graduate programs, Hampton University offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration , which includes noteworthy courses in areas like Managerial Economics, Empirical Research Methods, and Advanced Topics in Research.

Wish to attend an HBCU that consistently ranks among the top ten Historically Black institutions.

Prefer a college with a major athletics program.

• #1 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2025
• #4 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 2025
• #8 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2025
• #8 Best Grad Schools in Virginia 2025
• #9 Best Colleges in Virginia 2024
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• #23 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees 2025
• #1 Best Online Associate in Economics
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• #2 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of English
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• #2 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
• #2 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
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• #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in the District Of Columbia
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• #7 Online Colleges That Start Anytime and the Benefits of a Self-Paced Education
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What do we love about Liberty University?

Liberty University is one of the largest Christian universities in the world as well as one of the largest private non-profit universities in the U.S. Much of this size is based on its online enrollment.

Liberty University enrolls roughly 15,000 residential students across its 17 colleges, and an additional 80,000 through its extensive online course and degree offerings.

Liberty University is noted for the sheer volume of advanced degrees and online degrees earned by its student body. With more than 47,000 students pursuing advanced degrees, Liberty University offers an extremely wide range of online doctoral programs, including online PhD programs in many different disciplines.

For instance, Liberty University offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy with a concentration in Economic Policy . Liberty University’s PhD program is structured to build upon your existing knowledge of economics and provide a deeper look at how the discipline of economics relates to public policy.

Wish to attend the world’s largest seminary—Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity.

Students who do not identify with Evangelical Christianity.

• #10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Cybersecurity 2025
• #20 Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #24 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024
• #17 20 Fastest Online Bachelor's of Business Degree Programs Ranked 2024

Baker College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice

What do we love about Baker College?

Baker College was founded in 1911, and established its first campus in Flint, Michigan. Beginning as a for-profit institution called the Baker Business College, Baker would evolve into a non-profit college in 1977.

Today, Baker’s primary campus is located in Owosso, Michigan with another ten satellite campuses throughout the state’s Lower Peninsula region. Nearly 5000 undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently in pursuit of degrees at Baker.

Baker College offers an online Doctor of Business Administration geared toward aspiring international business leaders, featuring courses such as Global Financial Economy, Leading 21st Century Organizations, and Introduction to Research Methods and Design.

Are looking for an accessible academic institution. More than 85% of applicants are accepted into Baker.

Are looking to get involved in campus life. Students indicate that Baker has a limited offering of campus clubs and activities.

Other Options for Aspiring Economists

Students considering an online doctoral in economics should also check out the best on-campus options to compare features like cost, curriculum, acceptance rate, and more.

University of California, Berkeley

• #2 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
• #2 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #2 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #2 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #2 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #3 Best Universities in the World 2025
• #1 Best Grad Schools California 2025
• #1 Best Research Universities in California 2025
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2025
• #1 Best Colleges in California 2025
• #1 Best Public Colleges in California 2025
• #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees 2025
• #1 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
• #1 Best Colleges and Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
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• #2 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #2 Best Colleges and Universities for Sociology Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #2 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
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• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
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• #4 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #2 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #3 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2025

Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Earth Sciences
• Mathematics
• Anthropology
• Communications

Most Influential Alumni

• Daniel Kahneman
• John Kenneth Galbraith
• Timothy Leary
• Shing-Tung Yau
• Ken Thompson
• Niklaus Wirth
• Douglas Engelbart
• Theodosius Dobzhansky
• Betty Friedan
• George Dantzig
• Octavio Paz
• Gary Snyder

New York University

• #10 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #16 Best Universities in the World 2025
• #23 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in New York 2025
• #2 Best Colleges in New York 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in New York 2025
• #2 Best Private Colleges in New York 2024
• #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees 2025
• #3 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees 2025
• #3 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees 2025
• #5 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
• #8 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees 2025
• #9 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees 2025
• #10 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees 2025
• #10 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees 2025
• #14 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in New York 2025
• #1 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
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• #1 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #2 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2025
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• #4 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students 2025
• #10 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Social Work
• Erich Fromm
• Robert Mueller
• Martha Nussbaum
• John Archibald Wheeler
• Glenn Greenwald
• Howard Zinn
• Eric Kandel
• Lewis Mumford
• Alvin Toffler
• Louis Nirenberg

University of Michigan

• #4 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #9 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
• #9 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #9 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #14 Best Universities in the World 2025
• #22 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Michigan 2025
• #1 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2025
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2024
• #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2025
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees 2025
• #4 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
• #8 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees 2025
• #8 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees 2025
• #9 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees 2025
• #9 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees 2025
• #11 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #1 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2025
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• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Michigan
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Health Science 2025
• #1 Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Michigan 2025
• #2 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2025
• #2 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2025
• #2 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2025
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #3 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #6 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Nursing Degree Programs 2024
• #7 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of Michigan

University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Claude Shannon
• Arthur Miller
• Alvin Plantinga
• Edgar F. Codd
• Hans-Hermann Hoppe
• Stephen Smale
• Urie Bronfenbrenner
• John Henry Holland
• Amos Tversky
• Marshall Sahlins

University of California, Los Angeles

• #7 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges
• #13 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
• #13 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #13 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
• #24 Best Universities in the World 2025
• #2 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2025
• #2 Best Public Colleges in California 2025
• #3 Best Grad Schools California 2025
• #3 Best Research Universities in California 2025
• #3 Best Colleges in California 2025
• #4 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees 2025
• #5 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees 2025
• #8 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees 2025
• #11 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees 2025
• #12 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees 2025
• #13 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees 2025
• #13 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees 2025
• #14 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #4 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2025
• #4 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2025
• #4 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #12 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Economics degree at University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Hilary Putnam
• Elinor Ostrom
• Judea Pearl
• Glenn T. Seaborg
• Barry Boehm
• Stanley Cavell
• William F. Sharpe
• John Ehrlichman
• Stephen Krashen
• Edward O. Thorp
• Stephen Kosslyn

George Mason University

• #2 Best Colleges in Virginia 2024
• #2 Best Public Colleges in Virginia 2025
• #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #10 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees 2025
• #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Virginia 2025
• #2 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Information Technology PhD Programs
• #2 Top 8 Fastest Accelerated Online Psychology Doctorates (PhDs)
• #4 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Accounting Programs 2025

Career Outlook for Economics degree at George Mason University

George Mason University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Political Science
• Tyler Cowen
• Peter Boettke
• Stephen Moore
• Steven Horwitz
• Alex Tabarrok
• Peter Leeson
• Fred Foldvary
• Stephen Blair Hedges
• Jon Gettman
• Richard Bausch
• Ivan Katchanovski

Check out the full List of Online Programs .

The PhD in economics is a highly prestigious degree. However, only a select few schools offer the economics PhD online. Some graduate schools of business offer doctoral or business administration degrees with courses focused on economics.

The PhD in economics is a terminal degree. This means it is the highest degree you can earn in the economics field.

Graduates with an economics doctorate can become economists. Economists enjoy well-paying careers in areas like economics research, public policy consultation, economics education, finance, and corporate executive leadership.

PhD in Economics candidates are typically already working at a high level in their field. This means that students seeking their doctorate must balance existing work and personal responsibilities with a challenging course of education. For many graduate students, online courses and fully online programs provide a way to achieve this balance.

For a look at how these online doctoral programs stack up against traditional on campus programs, check out our look at the The Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees .

Or find out what your options are with a look at our full List of University Rankings .

Otherwise, read on and learn more about how you can earn an online PhD in economics.

About Accredited Online PhD in Economics Degree Programs

Quality and credibility are important when it comes to finding an online PhD. The best online doctorate programs will have proper accreditation:

• Institutional Accreditation : Accreditation is vital for online doctoral programs. It signifies that the online PhD programs offered by the graduate school are in compliance with the standards of a Department of Education-approved accrediting body. A school must also be accredited in order to offer federal financial aid to its online doctorate candidates.

When looking for an online doctoral program, seek out options with accreditation from a colleges and schools commission in your region. This stamp of approval is critical for ensuring the quality and credibility of your online program.

• Programmatic Accreditation : In addition to institutional accreditation, consider online doctorate degree programs with programmatic accreditation. In many cases, the preferred specialized accreditation for economics degrees will be the same as that preferred for business administration degrees.

Look for doctoral programs with accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This is generally an indication of credibility to prospective employers.

• Carnegie Classification : The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, or as it is more commonly known, the Carnegie Classification, is a framework for categorizing all accredited, degree-granting institutions in the United States. Originally formulated in 1970 by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and administered through the University of Indiana’s Center for Postsecondary Research since 2014, the Carnegie Classification is “the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education.”

Under this classification, top research universities for doctoral degrees and PhD candidates are identified as either R2: Doctoral Universities for “high research activity” or R1: Doctoral Universities for “very high research activity.” Look for these classifications when considering options for your online Phd programs.

Key Point: The best online doctoral programs will have both institutional and programmatic accreditation.

Admission Requirements

Schools that offer online doctorate programs have different admission requirements. However, most online doctoral programs will carry the same basic threshold for admission:

• A completed online application
• Official undergraduate college transcripts
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• GRE scores, MAT scores, or GMAT scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal interviews
• Personal statement or essay
• Plan of study

Key Point: In most cases, you’ll be eligible to enter a doctoral degree online after earning a bachelor’s degree. However, some specialized online PhD programs may require you to have earned a master’s degree as well.

Curriculum and Courses

As with other advanced degree and graduate programs, research is the central component of your online PhD in economics program. This is true for fully online doctorate degrees as well as hybrid degrees combining online education with traditional on-campus courses. Regardless of whether you complete a traditional, hybrid or online doctoral program, the typical time to completion is three to six years.

The typical components of your online PhD program may include:

Foundational Courses

Foundational courses will typically focus on introductory topics like economic theory, models of economic analysis, economic history, international business, financial economics, and more.

You will also take courses focused on practicing your critical thinking and research skills. You may be able to complete many of these requirements online through your distance learning program.

Examinations for PhD Candidacy

Many online doctoral students are required to complete certain examinations to enter into online PhD candidacy. This will typically occur after you’ve completed one to two years of foundational courses.

Dissertation

In most cases, the central component of your online economics PhD program will be your dissertation research. After gaining status as an online PhD candidate, you will typically work closely with a professorial advisor or mentor to develop an original research question.

This research question will form the basis of your dissertation—an ongoing project designed to address this question through applied research and the demonstration of advanced knowledge. While you will work closely with your advisor or mentor, much of your dissertation will be rooted in your ability to conduct research independently. This is especially true for students pursuing an online PhD.

Oral Defense

Upon completion of the written portion of your dissertation—which will typically present the findings from your original research project—you will be expected to defend your findings. This “oral defense” will typically be conducted by a commission of professors and experts in your field. PhD candidates in some online degree programs may be able to conduct this defense via teleconferencing.

Teaching Requirements

Some online PhD programs will also include a teaching component, which will require you to work as an adjunct professor or teacher’s assistant in an undergraduate or graduate school. It may be possible for students in the online doctoral degree program to also serve teaching requirements by instructing online students.

Key Point: The online doctor of economics degree program is a research-focused degree. Your dissertation will be a central part of earning your economics degree online.

Careers for Students Who Earn Their Doctoral Degree in Economics Online

The PhD in economics is a terminal degree program. This means that students who complete credible online doctoral programs in economics are generally eligible for top positions and opportunities in their field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the top 10% of earners among economists earned more than $193,000 in 2021. Many of these top earners worked in fields like finance, insurance, federal governance, technical consulting services, and more.

PhDs in economics are also more likely to be sought out by prestigious international organizations for leadership and consultation opportunities.

These higher earnings reflect the high demand for qualified PhDs in economics in the following fields:

• Federal Government
• Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• Management Consulting
• Public Policy Consultation
• Economic Theory Research
• Post-Secondary Education
• Corporate Executive Leadership

Key Points: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students who complete the economics doctorate program will be eligible for top-paying roles in finance, insurance, public policy, and more.

What’s the difference between online doctoral programs and online PhD programs?

Technically, a PhD is a type of doctorate degree. This means that all online PhD candidates are doctoral students. By contrast, not all doctoral students are PhD candidates.

The primary distinction is that doctoral students are primarily focused on putting existing theories into practice. Depending on your chosen field, your online doctoral degree may require participation in an educational leadership program, engagement in clinical practice, work as a resident in a nursing program, and much more.

By contrast, online PhD students are focused on creating new knowledge in their area of study. This usually means that online PhD candidates are focused on introducing new theories, creating research projects around these theories, and presenting new findings that demonstrate a mastery of existing knowledge and the insight to introduce new ideas into the field.

Today, more working professionals than ever before are pursuing both online doctoral degrees and online Phd programs.