Online applied economics master’s programs vary substantially in how much they emphasise economic theory, econometrics, policy analysis, forecasting, and data science. Tuition, GPA requirements, prerequisite coursework, delivery format, and the balance between economic reasoning and quantitative methods all differ considerably across programmes – and those differences matter more to long-term career fit than the degree title alone.
The University of North Dakota takes the top position in this comparison with its 30-credit M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics, which combines economic analysis with econometrics, forecasting, statistics, data analytics, and machine learning. The degree can be completed fully online in approximately two years, does not require the GRE, and is STEM-designated in econometrics and quantitative economics.
Other strong online options include the University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, American University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and the University of Missouri – which offers two separate graduate programmes relevant to applied economics students with different interests.
Ranking Methodology
Programmes in this comparison were evaluated on the strength of applied economics curriculum, the integration of quantitative and data-analysis training, online delivery flexibility, current programme availability, admission accessibility, tuition and published programme cost, opportunities to apply economic analysis to real datasets, and fit for working professionals. This is not a universal ranking of academic quality. UND’s first-place position reflects the combination of applied economics, predictive analytics, online flexibility, and value most directly relevant to this article’s search intent.
Quick Comparison Table
| Rank | University | Actual Degree | Credits | Online Format | Admission and GPA Point |
| 1 | University of North Dakota | M.S. Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics | 30 | 100% online; synchronous and asynchronous options | 2.75 overall or 3.0 junior and senior GPA |
| 2 | University of Maryland | M.S. Applied Economics | 30 | Online; weekly synchronous meetings required | Economics and calculus prerequisites |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University | M.S. Applied Economics | 30 | Online or hybrid | 3.0 minimum GPA |
| 4 | American University | M.S. Economics – Applied Economics pathway | 30 | Online | No economics bachelor’s required |
| 5 | Auburn University at Montgomery | M.S. Applied Economics | 30 | 100% online; asynchronous | GRE and GMAT waived for qualifying applicants |
| 6 | University of Missouri | M.A. Economics | 30 | 100% online | 3.0 GPA in final 60 undergraduate hours |
| 7 | University of Missouri | M.S. Agricultural and Applied Economics | 30 | 100% online | Economics, calculus, and statistics prerequisites |
Writers should reverify all tuition, admission requirements, GPA thresholds, credit totals, and delivery formats from current official programme materials before publication. If editorial preference is to avoid two entries from the same university, position seven can be replaced with another currently accepting and qualifying programme after fresh live verification.
The Best Online Master’s Programs in Applied Economics, Ranked for 2026
1. University of North Dakota – M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics
UND’s M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics stands out because it does not treat economics and analytics as separate disciplines that happen to share a degree. The 30-credit programme combines economic theory with statistical methods, econometrics, forecasting, data analytics, and predictive modelling – producing graduates who can apply economic reasoning to datasets, build and interpret quantitative models, and communicate findings across research, consulting, government, and business contexts.
The curriculum includes an economics core, data analytics coursework, independent study, and electives that allow students to develop depth in the areas most relevant to their professional direction. Technical training incorporates R and Stata alongside econometrics, statistical analysis, machine learning, forecasting, and applied work with real-world datasets. UND describes the programme as preparation for work in economic research, consulting, forecasting, finance, government, and other data-intensive settings – a broad professional scope that reflects the degree’s dual emphasis rather than a narrow specialisation.
The independent study component gives students the opportunity to apply their analytical and economic skills to a research question of their choosing with faculty guidance, and UND highlights connections to economic research and its Institute of Policy and Business Analytics as part of the programme’s applied orientation.
UND’s programme is STEM-designated in econometrics and quantitative economics. The STEM designation may be relevant to eligible international students planning around Optional Practical Training, but students should verify current OPT requirements and applicable eligibility criteria directly from the relevant regulatory and institutional sources rather than assuming the designation determines their individual situation.
The degree is available 100% online with no required campus visits. Courses may be offered synchronously or asynchronously, and some courses include live discussions outside regular lecture times – the programme should not be described as entirely self-paced. Students comparing online economics programmes on scheduling flexibility should confirm current delivery formats for specific courses from UND’s current programme materials before planning around a fully asynchronous schedule.
For the CGPAFullForm audience specifically, UND’s admission requirements are worth examining in detail. Applicants currently need a four-year bachelor’s degree and either a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 GPA across junior and senior undergraduate coursework. Students must also have completed intermediate microeconomics, one semester of calculus, and probability and statistics, with at least a C in each prerequisite and a 3.0 GPA across those required courses. No GRE is currently required. Students should verify current admissions requirements from UND’s current programme materials before applying, as policies can change.
The programme is available through UND’s College of Business and Public Administration, which holds AACSB accreditation. Students should verify that AACSB accreditation applies specifically to the programme they are enrolling in rather than assuming it applies universally across all university units.
Students should verify all current programme specifics including curriculum, delivery format, tuition, and admissions requirements from UND’s current M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics programme materials before making any application or enrolment decisions.
key differentiator: a STEM-designated 30-credit online M.S. that integrates applied economics with predictive analytics, econometrics, forecasting, R and Stata, and machine learning – available without the GRE and completable without campus visits
2. University of Maryland – M.S. in Applied Economics
Maryland’s 30-credit professional M.S. in Applied Economics is built around quantitative economics and applied econometrics and uses the same curriculum as the university’s in-person versions. Students taking two courses per quarter can complete the ten-course programme in approximately 15 months. A key scheduling distinction from UND: Maryland’s online classes include weekly synchronous Zoom meetings in the Washington, D.C. time zone, and the university explicitly states that the programme is not designed for students seeking fully asynchronous or self-paced study. Admission prerequisites include prior coursework in introductory macroeconomics, introductory microeconomics, and Calculus I with specified minimum grades. Writers should verify current tuition, admission requirements, and programme structure from Maryland’s current programme materials before publication.
key differentiator: a structured applied econometrics-focused M.S. with weekly live interaction – most directly relevant for students who want synchronous engagement and an accelerated completion timeline
3. Johns Hopkins University – M.S. in Applied Economics
Johns Hopkins offers a 30-credit M.S. in Applied Economics available online or in person, typically completable in 12 to 24 months. The curriculum covers microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, quantitative methods, econometrics, forecasting, machine learning, and cost-benefit analysis, with electives allowing concentration in financial economics, health economics, environmental economics, international economics, public policy, or spatial economics. The current programme page lists tuition and fees in approximately the $55,550 to $56,550 range – writers should reverify this figure immediately before publication. Johns Hopkins currently specifies a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, alongside prerequisite coursework in introductory micro- and macroeconomics, multivariable calculus, and statistics with specified minimum grades. Writers should verify current admission requirements and tuition from Johns Hopkins’s current programme materials before publication.
key differentiator: a customisable applied economics degree with a wide range of economic fields and quantitative electives – most relevant for students who want curriculum flexibility and access to Johns Hopkins’s academic environment
4. American University – M.S. in Economics, Applied Economics Pathway
American University’s online economics graduate programme offers an Applied Economics pathway alongside a Data Science pathway, requiring 30 credits and typically taking approximately one and a half to two years. The Applied Economics curriculum combines economic theory, econometrics, statistical analysis, policy applications, economic forecasting, and communication of economic findings, culminating in a capstone based on an economic research question, dataset, and econometric model. A notable accessibility feature is that students do not need an undergraduate economics degree, though prerequisite preparation including basic statistics and Calculus I or equivalent is expected. No GRE is currently required for the online programme. American currently publishes a $28,000 flat tuition rate for the online M.S. excluding fees – writers should verify current pricing from American’s current programme materials before publication.
key differentiator: an applied economics M.S. that explicitly accepts applicants from non-economics undergraduate backgrounds at a flat tuition rate – most relevant for students transitioning into economics from another discipline
5. Auburn University at Montgomery – M.S. in Applied Economics
Auburn University at Montgomery offers a 30-credit, 100% online M.S. in Applied Economics completable in as few as 16 months through asynchronous delivery – making it one of the more flexible scheduling options in this comparison for working professionals who need to study around fixed employment hours. The ten-course programme covers microeconomic analysis, empirical research, econometrics, industrial organisation, economic modelling, and forecasting. AUM currently publishes $483 per credit for in-state students, with estimated total tuition in the $14,490 to $15,930 range before additional fees – writers should reverify current pricing and residency treatment from AUM’s current programme materials before publication. GRE and GMAT scores are not required for qualifying applicants. Writers should verify current admissions requirements and tuition from AUM’s current materials before publication.
key differentiator: a fully asynchronous online M.S. with one of the lower published per-credit rates in this comparison – most relevant for working professionals who prioritise scheduling flexibility and a faster completion timeline
6. University of Missouri – M.A. in Economics
Mizzou’s 30-credit, 100% online Master of Arts in Economics combines economic theory with modern data analytics, requiring no campus visits. Although the credential is not formally titled Applied Economics, its curriculum aligns closely with applied-economics search intent through its emphasis on econometrics, quantitative economics, applied econometrics, data analysis, forecasting, research, international economics, and public economics. Mizzou Online currently requires a 3.0 GPA in the final 60 hours of undergraduate education, at least one semester of calculus, and does not require GRE scores for the online M.A. Mizzou currently publishes an illustrative estimated cost of approximately $17,034 for the 30-credit degree – actual student costs can vary, and writers should verify current tuition from Mizzou’s current materials before publication.
key differentiator: a 100% online economics M.A. with strong econometrics and data-analysis content at a competitive published estimated cost – most relevant for students who want a traditional economics credential with significant applied and quantitative depth
7. University of Missouri – M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics
Mizzou’s separately housed M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics is a 30-credit, 100% online programme launched online in 2025, offering a non-thesis option for online students. It focuses applied economic analysis on agribusiness, environmental economics, development economics, public policy, and managerial and behavioural economics – making it a distinct choice from the M.A. in Economics for students whose interests connect economics to agriculture, food systems, natural resources, or rural development. Applicants are expected to have prior coursework in economics or agricultural economics, calculus, and statistics. Mizzou currently publishes an illustrative estimated programme cost of approximately $19,590. Writers should verify current admission requirements, curriculum, and tuition from Mizzou’s current materials before publication.
key differentiator: an applied economics M.S. specifically oriented toward agriculture, environment, and development contexts – most relevant for students whose economic interests connect to natural resources, agribusiness, or rural and agricultural policy
What GPA Do You Need for an Online Master’s in Applied Economics?
There is no single GPA requirement across all applied economics master’s programmes, and the threshold varies meaningfully among the programmes in this comparison. Understanding where requirements differ – and what other factors programmes consider alongside GPA – is relevant for students whose academic records are mixed or who completed their undergraduate degree in a different field.
UND currently requires either a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 GPA across junior and senior undergraduate coursework. That two-track threshold means students whose overall GPA was pulled down by early undergraduate performance may still qualify based on their later academic record. Johns Hopkins specifies a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Mizzou Online Economics requires a 3.0 GPA in the final 60 undergraduate credit hours rather than the overall cumulative GPA – another structure that gives weight to academic trajectory rather than overall record.
A lower cumulative GPA does not automatically mean a student is ineligible for every applied economics master’s programme. Admission decisions typically consider multiple factors alongside GPA, including performance specifically in quantitative prerequisite courses such as calculus and statistics, the trajectory of academic performance across the undergraduate programme, relevant professional or research experience, and the strength of undergraduate training in economics and mathematics. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below a programme’s threshold should review whether the programme evaluates later-year GPA separately and whether prerequisite course performance is assessed independently.
Students should not assume that a qualifying GPA alone guarantees admission. Prerequisites, quantitative preparation, and the competitiveness of a given application cycle all affect outcomes. The GPA thresholds cited above were current at the time this article was prepared – writers should verify current requirements from each institution’s official admissions materials before publication.
What Undergraduate Courses Do Applied Economics Master’s Programs Require?
Applied economics is typically more quantitative than students who have not studied it formally might expect, and prerequisite requirements reflect that quantitative orientation. Students who have not completed relevant coursework may need to address those gaps before applying.
Common prerequisites across the programmes in this comparison include calculus, statistics or probability, introductory microeconomics, and introductory macroeconomics. Some programmes add intermediate microeconomics or multivariable calculus to that baseline.
UND has one of the more clearly defined prerequisite sets in this comparison, requiring intermediate microeconomics, one semester of calculus, and probability and statistics – with at least a C in each and a 3.0 GPA across those courses. Johns Hopkins requires introductory micro- and macroeconomics, multivariable calculus, and statistics with specified minimum grades. Maryland requires introductory macro- and microeconomics and Calculus I. American University requires basic statistics and Calculus I or equivalent without requiring an economics undergraduate degree. Mizzou’s Agricultural and Applied Economics programme expects prior coursework in economics or agricultural economics, calculus, and statistics.
Students who are strong in mathematics but new to economics may find programmes like American University more accessible at the outset, while students with an economics background but lighter mathematics preparation should prioritise calculus completion before applying to any of the more quantitative programmes in this comparison.
Applied Economics vs. Economics: What Is the Difference?
A traditional economics master’s may devote substantial attention to advanced economic theory – general equilibrium, welfare analysis, game theory, and formal mathematical modelling – with a strong orientation toward academic research or doctoral preparation.
An applied economics programme generally emphasises using economic theory and quantitative methods to analyse real-world questions involving business, finance, government, policy, healthcare, energy, markets, and economic development. The analytical toolkit is similar, but the application is directed toward practical problems rather than primarily theoretical ones.
The categories overlap considerably, which is why programmes such as Mizzou’s M.A. in Economics can be genuinely relevant to an applied-economics comparison when the curriculum strongly emphasises econometrics and data analysis rather than emphasising theory for its own sake.
Applied Economics vs. Data Analytics
Applied economics and data analytics are related but distinct disciplines, and the difference is worth understanding for students comparing programmes across both categories.
Applied economics begins with questions about economic behaviour, markets, policy, incentives, and decision-making, then uses quantitative methods – econometrics, forecasting, statistical modelling – to answer them. The economic reasoning framework gives structure to how questions are formulated and how findings are interpreted.
Data analytics begins more broadly with extracting insights from datasets across many domains, often without economics providing the central disciplinary framework. Analytics programmes may cover machine learning, data engineering, visualisation, and statistical methods without anchoring those methods in economic theory or policy questions.
UND’s M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics intentionally sits at the intersection of these two orientations. It combines economic theory and econometrics with forecasting, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data-analytics methods – making it relevant to students who want an economics degree but also want the quantitative toolkit that analytics programmes typically provide, rather than choosing between the two.
How to Choose an Online Applied Economics Master’s
Five dimensions matter most when comparing programmes.
First, check the mathematics prerequisites carefully. A programme may be available online but still expect significant quantitative preparation before enrolment. Students who have not completed calculus or statistics should factor prerequisite completion time into their application timeline.
Second, compare the actual curriculum beyond the degree title. Look at how much coursework is dedicated to econometrics, economic theory, statistics, machine learning, forecasting, research methods, and data analysis. Two programmes called Applied Economics can have very different curricular emphases.
Third, verify whether online means synchronous, asynchronous, or a combination. UND offers a mix of synchronous and asynchronous delivery; Maryland’s online programme requires weekly live sessions; AUM is fully asynchronous. Students who cannot attend scheduled sessions regularly should confirm delivery format before committing to a programme.
Fourth, compare tuition on a consistent basis. A per-credit comparison is only meaningful when applied to the same total credit count. Account for programme fees, residency pricing, and whether published figures represent the full cost before concluding which option is most affordable.
Fifth, review GPA and admissions requirements before developing a preference for a specific programme. Quantitative prerequisite performance, academic trajectory, and professional background all factor into admissions decisions alongside overall GPA.
Why UND Stands Out
UND’s strongest differentiator in this comparison is that its M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics does not require students to choose between economics and analytics – the programme builds both simultaneously. Students develop economic reasoning and quantitative methods, then apply them together through econometrics, forecasting, R and Stata, predictive modelling, and machine learning coursework grounded in economic applications.
The combination of features makes UND particularly useful for students whose career targets sit at the intersection of economic analysis and data work: economic consulting, financial analysis, government policy analysis, market research, forecasting, and roles where economic reasoning and quantitative modelling are both expected rather than treated as separate skill sets.
Alongside the curricular integration, the programme’s GRE-free admission, relatively accessible GPA threshold, no campus-visit requirement, STEM designation, and residency-independent online availability make it a practically accessible option for students with diverse academic backgrounds and professional circumstances.
FAQ
What GPA do you need for UND’s master’s in applied economics? UND currently requires either a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 GPA across junior and senior undergraduate coursework. Applicants must also meet prerequisite course requirements in intermediate microeconomics, calculus, and probability and statistics. Students should verify current requirements from UND’s current admissions materials.
Does UND require the GRE for Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics? No. UND currently states that the GRE is not required for its M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. Students should confirm current admissions requirements from UND’s materials before applying, as policies can change.
Can you earn UND’s applied economics master’s entirely online? Yes. UND states that the programme can be completed 100% online with no campus visits required. Courses include synchronous and asynchronous delivery options – the programme should not be assumed to be fully asynchronous.
How many credits is UND’s M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics? The degree requires 30 credits, including an economics core, data analytics coursework, an independent study, and electives.
Do you need an economics bachelor’s degree for an applied economics master’s? Not always. Requirements vary by programme. American University explicitly accepts applicants from non-economics undergraduate backgrounds. However, most programmes in this comparison still require calculus, statistics, and introductory economics as prerequisites regardless of undergraduate major.
Is applied economics a STEM degree? Some programmes are STEM-designated and some are not. UND’s M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics holds a STEM designation in econometrics and quantitative economics. STEM designation is not universal across all applied economics master’s programmes.
Is applied economics the same as data science? No. Applied economics uses economic theory and quantitative methods to analyse economic and policy questions. Data science has a broader focus on extracting insights from data across many disciplines. UND’s programme combines substantial elements of both by integrating economic reasoning with predictive analytics, machine learning, and data-analysis methods.
What is the difference between a CGPA and GPA in graduate admissions? CGPA refers to the Cumulative Grade Point Average, which represents academic performance across all completed courses on a given grading scale. In U.S. graduate admissions, programmes typically specify minimum GPA requirements on a 4.0 scale. International students should consult each institution’s international admissions guidance or use a credential evaluation service to convert grades from other national systems accurately rather than applying a universal conversion formula.