Online applied economics programmes are particularly useful for professionals who want to move beyond economic theory into the quantitative work that real-world decision-making most specifically requires – econometrics, forecasting, empirical policy analysis, and the data analytics tools that economic research and business analysis increasingly depend on. The strongest programmes combine economic foundations with hands-on statistical and computational training rather than treating analytics as an afterthought to theory.
This comparison evaluates ten online applied economics master’s programmes on curriculum depth, analytics emphasis, delivery flexibility, STEM designation, and fit for working professionals who cannot step away from their careers to attend campus full-time.
TL;DR
| Program | Best For | Credits | Online Format |
| University of North Dakota | Economics and predictive analytics | 30 | 100% online |
| Johns Hopkins University | Dedicated applied economics | Verify | Online |
| Boston College | Flexible applied economics study | 30 | Online available |
| University of Maryland | Applied econometrics and policy | 30 | 100% online |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Accelerated applied economics | 30 | 100% online |
| American University | Applied economics or data science tracks | Verify | Online |
| University of Missouri | Economics and modern analytics | 30 | 100% online |
| UNC Greensboro | Applied economics | Verify | Verify |
| Purdue University | Economics specialisation options | Verify | Verify |
| University of Southern Mississippi | Flexible economics study | Verify | Verify |
All programme specifics should be verified from current institutional materials before publication.
What to Compare in an Online Applied Economics Master’s
The most useful comparison between online applied economics programmes focuses on practical curriculum differences rather than general institutional reputation.
The applied versus theoretical distinction is the most consequential evaluation dimension. Programmes that emphasise applied economics develop the quantitative techniques – econometrics, regression analysis, forecasting, and empirical research methods – that professional economic analysis most directly requires. Those oriented toward economic theory develop analytical frameworks and models that are most relevant to academic research and doctoral study. Working professionals building toward applied research, consulting, forecasting, financial analysis, or policy roles benefit most from programmes weighted toward the applied dimension.
Econometrics requirements, predictive analytics content, statistical software training – R, Python, Stata – machine-learning methodology, and economic modelling coursework are the curriculum elements most directly relevant to the professional applications that motivate most graduate economics students. Whether a programme requires independent research or a capstone project determines the depth of applied experience students develop before completing the degree.
STEM designation is practically significant for international students because it determines OPT extension eligibility. No GRE requirement removes a preparation barrier for working professionals who want to begin graduate study without testing costs and preparation time. Synchronous versus asynchronous delivery, campus requirements, credit requirements, completion timeline, and total tuition should all be confirmed from current institutional materials before making any programme decision.
Best Online Master’s in Applied Economics Degrees
- University of North Dakota – Best for Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics
UND’s M.S. in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics is the most specifically suited programme on this list for students whose graduate economics objective is the combination of economic rigour and quantitative analytics capability that applied research, forecasting, and data-driven decision-making roles most directly require – delivered through a fully online programme that can be completed without relocating or leaving current employment.
The degree name itself signals the most important differentiating feature: predictive analytics is part of the core programme identity at UND rather than an elective add-on available to students who seek it out. That combination – applied economics alongside dedicated predictive analytics methodology – reflects the direction that professional economic work is moving as data availability and computational tools have expanded what economic analysis can produce.
The 30-credit curriculum develops the economics core alongside dedicated data-analytics coursework and independent research. Students encounter econometrics, mathematical economics, economic forecasting, and statistical analysis alongside machine-learning approaches including classification and regression trees, clustering, and model averaging. The programme works with analytical tools including R and Stata, and covers data structures including time-series, cross-sectional, panel, and longitudinal data – the formats that empirical economic research most specifically draws from. That computational and methodological coverage connects economic theory to the analytical toolkit that professional economic work most directly requires.
The programme is 100% online with no campus requirement and an estimated completion time of two years. UND offers both synchronous and asynchronous course experiences, though some courses may include scheduled live discussions – students should confirm current course scheduling formats directly from UND’s programme materials before enrolling.
The programme is STEM-designated, which is practically significant for international students eligible for STEM OPT extension following graduation. No GRE is required for admission, removing a preparation barrier that is practically significant for working professionals. For 2026-27, UND lists online tuition and fees at $618.64 per credit for the programme, with online students paying the same tuition rate regardless of state of residency. This figure should be rechecked directly from UND’s current tuition schedule immediately before publication as tuition is updated annually.
UND describes the programme’s professional applications as including economic research, forecasting, consulting, financial and business analysis, strategic planning, and applied research – a career destination range that reflects the programme’s positioning for applied professional work rather than academic preparation alone.
Students should verify all current programme specifics including curriculum, scheduling, tuition, STEM designation status, admission requirements, and any programme changes directly from UND’s current M.S. in Applied Economics & Predictive Analytics programme page before making any application or enrolment decisions.
Key differentiator: A 100% online, STEM-designated programme that explicitly combines applied economics, econometrics, economic forecasting, and predictive analytics including machine-learning methods – with no GRE requirement, no campus attendance, and a consistent tuition rate regardless of residency
- Johns Hopkins University – Best for a Dedicated Applied Economics Degree
Johns Hopkins offers an online M.S. in Applied Economics – a dedicated applied economics graduate degree rather than a broader economics or business programme – with curriculum that can include specialised study in areas such as environmental, health, and spatial economics. Most directly relevant for students whose applied economics objective includes those specialist domain areas alongside econometric foundations. Writers should verify current programme structure, credit requirements, and online delivery specifics directly from Johns Hopkins’s current Applied Economics programme page before publication.
Key differentiator: Dedicated applied economics graduate study with specialised economics electives, most relevant for students whose applied economics interests include specific domain specialisations alongside quantitative foundations
- Boston College – Best for Flexible Applied Economics Study
Boston College’s M.S. in Applied Economics is a 10-course programme emphasising economics alongside practical data analysis, with students able to study full-time or part-time through online, evening on-campus, or combined delivery. Boston College states the degree can be completed in as little as 16 months. Most directly relevant for students whose primary constraint is scheduling flexibility and who want applied analytics integrated with economics fundamentals across a flexible format. Students should verify current programme specifics directly from Boston College’s current materials.
Key differentiator: Flexible scheduling options combined with hands-on economics and data analysis training, most relevant for students whose primary constraint is format and scheduling flexibility alongside applied curriculum
- University of Maryland – Best for Applied Econometrics and Policy Analysis
The University of Maryland’s 100% online, STEM-designated 30-credit M.S. in Applied Economics emphasises quantitative economics, applied econometrics, and empirical analysis using real-world policy-relevant problems. The online curriculum includes microeconomic analysis, applied macroeconomics, empirical research, econometric modelling and forecasting, and electives including health economics, environmental economics, international trade, R programming, and machine learning with Python. Most directly relevant for students whose applied economics objective includes the policy analysis and empirical research dimensions of economic work. Students should verify current programme specifics directly with the University of Maryland.
Key differentiator: Strong applied econometrics and public policy analysis orientation with elective options spanning health, environmental, and international economics alongside R and Python training
- Auburn University at Montgomery – Best for Accelerated Online Study
Auburn University at Montgomery offers a 100% online, asynchronous M.S. in Applied Economics requiring 30 credits, with AUM currently advertising a 16-month completion path. The curriculum emphasises quantitative analysis, economic modelling, and econometrics, and the degree is STEM-designated – making it a close structural comparison to UND for students prioritising STEM designation alongside accelerated online completion. Students should verify current programme specifics directly with AUM.
Key differentiator: Fully asynchronous, STEM-designated applied economics curriculum with an accelerated completion option, most relevant for students whose primary objective is the fastest available fully online completion timeline
- American University – Best for Applied Economics or Data Science Track Options
American University’s online M.S. in Economics offers Applied Economics and Data Science tracks, providing a useful option for students who are deciding how strongly to weight economics versus data science in their graduate study. The programme combines economic theory, econometrics, data analysis, and communication of economic findings, and American currently states that applicants do not need an economics background or GRE score. Students should verify current programme specifics and track availability directly with American University.
Key differentiator: Explicit choice between applied economics and data-science-oriented economics pathways, most relevant for students who want to select the balance between economics and data science that most directly matches their career direction
- University of Missouri – Best for Economics and Modern Data Analytics
Mizzou’s 100% online M.A. in Economics requires 30 credits, no campus visits, and blends economic theory with modern data analytics applications – typically completed in approximately two years by students taking one or two courses per semester. Because the degree is formally an M.A. in Economics rather than Applied Economics, it should be presented as an adjacent alternative for students whose objective is economics with analytics integration rather than a programme specifically titled applied economics. Students should verify current programme specifics directly with the University of Missouri.
Key differentiator: Flexible online economics degree integrating analytics, programming, and quantitative research, most relevant as an adjacent option for students whose objective is economics with analytical depth rather than a specifically applied economics credential
- UNC Greensboro – Additional Applied Economics Option
UNC Greensboro can provide another applied economics comparison for students in the Southeast or those comparing regional public university options. Writers should verify that the current online applied economics programme is available, confirm the degree title, credit requirements, delivery format, and curriculum specifics directly from UNC Greensboro’s current materials before publication.
Key differentiator: Regional public university applied economics option – verify current programme availability and format before publication
- Purdue University – Additional Option With Specialisation Flexibility
Purdue can provide another comparison for students whose applied economics objective includes specialisation flexibility. Writers should verify that the specific current online economics or applied economics programme aligns closely enough with the applied economics search intent before including it – do not substitute an MBA, business analytics, or data science programme for an economics degree. Confirm current degree title, delivery format, credit requirements, and curriculum specifics from Purdue’s current materials before publication.
Key differentiator: Purdue’s academic environment for economics specialisation – verify current programme alignment with applied economics before publication
- University of Southern Mississippi – Additional Flexible Economics Option
The University of Southern Mississippi can round out the comparison if its current online economics programme aligns with the applied economics intent of this article. Writers should verify the exact current degree title, online availability, curriculum specifics, and whether the programme includes the econometrics and analytics content that defines the applied economics category – and should not include it if the current offering is a general economics or business programme rather than applied economics. Confirm all specifics from current USM materials before publication.
Key differentiator: Flexible online economics study – verify current programme alignment with applied economics before publication
Applied Economics vs. Economics: What the Difference Means for Working Professionals
Applied economics and economics are related but meaningfully different as graduate programme orientations, and understanding the distinction helps working professionals select the programme that most directly serves their intended use of the degree.
Theoretical economics develops the mathematical models, equilibrium frameworks, and analytical structures that describe how economies and markets function. It is most directly relevant for students intending academic careers, doctoral study, or research roles where theoretical contribution is the primary professional output.
Applied economics develops the quantitative techniques – econometrics, statistical analysis, empirical research methods, forecasting, and data analytics – that professionals use to analyse real economic data, evaluate policies, forecast outcomes, and inform decisions. It is most directly relevant for professionals in consulting, financial analysis, government policy, business strategy, economic research, and data-driven decision-making roles where the output is analysis and insight rather than theoretical contribution.
The predictive analytics component that specifically distinguishes UND’s programme reflects the further evolution of applied economics practice – where machine-learning methods, statistical forecasting tools, and computational data analysis are extending what economic analysis can produce beyond traditional econometric methods. Students whose professional applications include economic forecasting, business analytics, strategic planning, or applied research benefit most from programmes that develop those tools alongside econometric foundations rather than treating them as separate disciplines.
FAQ
Is a master’s in applied economics worth it?
Yes, for professionals whose career goals include economic research, financial analysis, consulting, policy analysis, forecasting, or data-driven business decision-making. Applied economics graduate training develops the quantitative and analytical capability that those roles most directly require and that undergraduate economics alone or professional experience without formal econometric training is less likely to develop systematically. The STEM designation that several programmes including UND’s carry also creates pathways for international graduates to remain in the US for extended periods through STEM OPT.
What can you do with an applied economics master’s?
Applied economics graduates pursue roles in economic research and consulting, financial and business analysis, strategic planning, government and policy analysis, forecasting, healthcare economics, environmental and energy economics, international trade analysis, and data analytics roles where economic reasoning and quantitative methods are applied to real-world decisions. UND specifically identifies economic research, forecasting, consulting, financial and business analysis, strategic planning, and applied research as professional applications of its programme.
Can you earn an applied economics master’s fully online?
Yes. UND, the University of Maryland, Auburn University at Montgomery, and the University of Missouri all offer applied economics or economics master’s degrees fully online without required campus attendance. Students should confirm current delivery specifics from each programme before committing, as some courses may include scheduled online sessions alongside asynchronous content.
Is applied economics different from economics?
Yes, in practice and in curriculum emphasis. Applied economics focuses on quantitative techniques – econometrics, forecasting, statistical analysis, and data analytics – for analysing real economic data and informing decisions. Economics as a graduate discipline can be more theoretically oriented, developing mathematical models and economic frameworks that are most relevant for academic and research careers. Applied economics programmes are generally more directly relevant for professional roles in analysis, consulting, and decision support.
Does applied economics require calculus?
Most applied economics master’s programmes assume some mathematical background including calculus and statistics at the undergraduate level, though requirements vary by programme. UND does not require the GRE, which removes one formal prerequisite signal, but students should review specific admission prerequisites directly from each programme’s current admissions requirements. Some programmes explicitly state they accept students without economics backgrounds while others expect foundational quantitative preparation.
What is predictive analytics in economics?
Predictive analytics in economics refers to the use of statistical and machine-learning methods to forecast economic outcomes, identify patterns in large datasets, and support data-driven decision-making. Applied to economics, it includes techniques such as economic forecasting, regression modelling, time-series analysis, classification and regression trees, clustering, and model averaging – the specific methods that UND’s programme addresses alongside traditional econometrics. The integration of predictive analytics into economics reflects the expanding role of computational tools in professional economic work.
Do online applied economics master’s programmes require the GRE?
Requirements vary by programme. UND explicitly states no GRE is required. American University also states no GRE requirement. Other programmes on this list have varying policies that should be confirmed directly from current admissions materials before applying. The absence of a GRE requirement is practically significant for working professionals who want to begin graduate study without the preparation time and testing costs that standardised admission testing requires
