<p>Hey, I'm looking at a lot of small colleges (Bowdoin, Middlbury, Colby, Bates etc.) does anyone know which small schools have the best economics programs?</p>
<p>Thanks!
DPR</p>
<p>claremont mckenna</p>
<p>From a previous thread about schools good for math and econ, here are the LACs:</p>
<p>Amherst College
Brandeis University
Carleton College
Claremont McKenna College
Colby College
Colgate University
College of William and Mary
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Denison University
Haverford College
Macalester College
Middlebury College
Oberlin College
Pomona College
Reed College
Swarthmore College
Vassar College
Wesleyan University
Williams College</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna!</p>
<p>Claremont McKenna!</p>
<p>Williams!@!</p>
<p>Davidson, William & Mary, Washington & Lee</p>
<p>Pomona, CMC, Swarthmore</p>
<p>Swarthmore produces more PhDs in Economics per 100 college graduates than any other college or university in the country and it isn't even close (more than double the three schools tied for second).</p>
<p>I always see people write Clarmont McKenna as the answer to this and never know why. It ranked #50 among LACs in PhD production in economics. While that's hardly the sole criteria to evaluate an econ dept or a school, it's still one primary measure of consideration that I don't see why Claremont McKenna should be viewed as #1. </p>
<p>I remember some order including Swarthmore, Oberlin, Reed, Colgate, Williams, Wesleyan to be among the top 10 LACs on this basis. If you're looking at recruiting for business related jobs, then Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin, Colgate, Middlebury, Hamilton, Colby, Haverford, Washington & Lee would be among the best. In four Wall Street related jobs, I've yet to meet one person from Claremont McKenna.</p>
<p>How's Occidental's econ?</p>
<p>People assume that because the school is reputable, and their focus is economics, that it is the best. Logically, it is more appropriate to say that Economics is the best major for the small college of Claremont McKenna, but people rarely ask that sort of question.</p>
<p>Among LAC's, "strength of department" is a somewhat fuzzy concept. However, in cases where schools do specialize (like CMC) it's worth noting that their department is strong. It isn't however, demonstrably stronger than Pomona, Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, etc.</p>
<p>Wellesley if you are female.</p>
<p>I can't see why Ph.D productivity matters in the least. The vast, overwhelming majority of economics majors don't go for Ph.D.s (I bet for many, their terminal working degree is an MBA). </p>
<p>I suspect CMC produces double the number of MBAs as Swarthmore - but I don't think that matters either. The question is the quality of education received by the "average" enrollee - who doesn't go to grad school either for a Ph.D. or MBA.</p>
<p>I think there is a difference in campus atmosphere when 15-20% pursue a PhD vs schools where 3% of students pursue a PhD that shouldn't be ignored. </p>
<p>Among those listed on Bloomberg, 20 from Swarthmore received an MBA while 35 from Claremont McKenna received an MBA. A greater difference than I would have expected but both surprisingly low (even after taking size into account) in comparison to some other top LACs [Williams (104), Colgate (99), Bucknell (80), Holy Cross (70), Middlebury (63), Lafayette (55), Hamilton (49)].</p>
<p>
[quote]
The question is the quality of education received by the "average" enrollee - who doesn't go to grad school either for a Ph.D. or MBA.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would partially agree if this wasn't a very nebulous and unquantifiable thing to measure. However, what the average students at these schools go on to do is both more discernable and more relevant to me.</p>
<p>It is NOT difficult to assess in a quantifiable matter the quality of education received by the "average" enrollee - in fact, that is precisely what the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE) does. (whether the school publishes its data is another thing entirely.)</p>
<p>Williams, Davidson, Holy Cross, Colgate.</p>