ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Florida

13 Colleges in the United States
$20,485 Avg Student Debt
$59,983 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Economics Badge [Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for economics students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/social-sciences/economics/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 5
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 45.06), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MS in Applied Economics" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MS in Applied Economics" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Science & Engineering Diploma Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.6)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 2 offers with relevance >= 1.0

2026 Best Value Economics Schools in Florida

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in economics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Economics Schools

1
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in economics in Florida. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $15,851. Early-career economics graduates make about $42,349. Set against $15,851 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.

2

A rank of #2 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for economics. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,111. Early-career economics graduates make about $48,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.

3

Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in economics, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Economics graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $42,314 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of South Florida Main Campus one of the best values for economics. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Economics graduates carry a median of $22,925 in student loans. Economics graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $47,351 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.

5

Students looking for strong value in economics will find it at Florida Gulf Coast University, which ranked #5. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Students borrow a median of $12,754 to complete the economics program here. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $47,344. That is a strong return on a $12,754 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.

ADBLOCK #101
6

University Of North Florida placed #6 among the best values for economics. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Economics graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, economics degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $41,519. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.

7
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University earned the #7 position for value in economics this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Economics graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Economics graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $60,948 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of Central Florida placed #8 among the best values for economics. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $25,750. Economics graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $47,743 early in their careers. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.

9
Ave Maria University crest
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ave Maria. Students from in state pay about $30,198 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,801 to complete the economics program here. Early-career economics graduates make about $40,866. That is a strong return on a $19,801 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.

10
Rollins College crest
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL

Rollins College placed #10 among the best values for economics. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,580. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $26,000. Early-career economics graduates make about $36,115. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.

ADBLOCK #115
11

The University Of Tampa ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. Typical student debt for economics graduates is $27,000. Economics graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $54,284 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The University Of Tampa admits about 40% of applicants.

12
University Of Miami crest
University Of Miami
Coral Gables, FL

University Of Miami ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value economics schools. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Economics graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career economics graduates make about $42,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.

ADBLOCK #173
View All Economics Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options