Study Economics in Illinois

Earning an online economics degree in Illinois lets you master economic theory, data analysis and market trends from anywhere while preparing for high-demand careers.

Top-ranked institutions such as University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale offer accredited online bachelor’s and master’s programs in economics.

These programs cover key areas such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, public finance and international trade, helping you grasp how fundamental economic forces shape business, policy and society.

Best Pennsylvania Online Economics Degrees

Online Economics Degrees in Illinois

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online economics degrees in Illinois:

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)
  • University of Illinois Springfield (UIS)
  • DePaul University
  • Northern Illinois University (NIU)
  • Illinois State University
  • University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration — Specialization in Economics (Online)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville delivers a fully online BS in Business Administration with a Specialization in Economics designed for working learners who need flexibility without sacrificing rigor. The degree requires 120 credit hours combining general education, business core, and economics coursework.

Most full-time students target a four-year plan, while transfer-friendly policies (accepting up to a high number of transfer credits) enable faster completion for eligible students who bring prior college work.

The specialization moves from principles to intermediate theory and applied analytics. You’ll build fluency in micro/macro analysis, quantitative business tools, statistical inference, and econometrics-style reasoning that informs forecasting and strategy.

Because the program sits inside a business school, you’ll learn economics alongside finance, operations, information systems, management, and marketing—mirroring how firms actually make decisions and trade off risk, cost, and growth.

Courses are delivered in accelerated online sessions with defined weekly milestones. You’ll complete hands-on assignments using real datasets, dashboards, and professional writing formats such as memos and executive briefs.

Six annual start dates and a streamlined application process make it practical to begin when it fits your schedule, while online advising, tutoring, and career services support progress from day one to graduation.

Courses and Curriculum

Foundation and business core: You’ll start with College Algebra and quantitative methods for business, then progress through business statistics, information systems, marketing, operations, and finance. These courses provide the analytical spine—optimization, probability, regression, and decision frameworks—used throughout upper-division economics.

Economics core: Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics introduce measurement, markets, and welfare analysis. Intermediate courses in consumer/firm decision-making and growth/stability formalize models, connect policy to business cycles, and prepare you for empirical work.

Applied depth: Upper-division offerings emphasize empirical business applications, money and banking, and professional electives such as economic consulting, healthcare economics, labor topics, and sports economics. Expect deliverables that employers recognize: model documentation, annotated visuals, and concise recommendations.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECON 111 — Principles of Macroeconomics — National output, employment, prices, policy transmission, and open-economy context; builds indicator literacy.
  • ECON 112 — Principles of Microeconomics — Supply–demand, elasticity, market structure, and regulation; links directly to pricing and strategy.
  • MS 251 — Statistical Analysis for Business Decisions — Descriptive stats, probability, inference, and multiple regression applied to business and economic questions.
  • ECON 301 — Consumer and Firm Decision-Making — Optimization under constraints, competition vs. market power, and strategic behavior.
  • ECON 302 — Economic Growth and Stability — Growth drivers, inflation/unemployment dynamics, and fiscal/monetary policy trade-offs.
  • ECON 315 — Empirical Business Applications — Practical econometric methods using cross-section and time-series data from accounting, finance, and marketing.
  • ECON 343 — Money and Banking — Financial institutions, interest rates, regulation, and how central-bank actions shape firm and household decisions.
  • ECON 428 — Economic Consulting — Scoping client problems, cost–benefit framing, pricing your work, and writing client-ready economic reports.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Business of Healthcare
  • Economics of Careers
  • Economics of Sports
  • International Economics
  • Public Finance
  • Industrial Organization
Practical Experience

Class projects replicate analyst workflows: define a decision problem, assemble and clean data, estimate models, stress-test assumptions, and communicate trade-offs for managers or policymakers. Team assignments emphasize collaboration tools and presentation polish.

Career-oriented bridges—résumé reviews, mock interviews, networking events, and virtual employer sessions—are integrated through the business school’s online resources. Many students compile a portfolio (briefs, slide decks, code snippets) to showcase with job applications.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply micro and macro models to firm strategy, markets, and policy evaluation.
  • Use quantitative methods and regression to analyze business and economic data.
  • Assess competition, regulation, risk, and growth to inform pricing and investment.
  • Translate analytical results into concise, decision-ready recommendations.
  • Demonstrate ethical, global, and data-driven reasoning in business contexts.
  • Graduate with a portfolio evidencing readiness for analyst and consulting roles.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates pursue roles such as business/economic analyst, financial analyst, market researcher, operations or pricing analyst, and policy researcher across corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors. The business-school setting helps you speak the language of managers and clients while using economic evidence to guide choices.

For institutional context, SIUE reports an undergraduate six-year graduation rate around 50–53% (varies by cohort and source).

Admissions Requirements
  • Online application and $40 fee; official transcripts from all prior colleges.
  • Transfer admission typically requires ~30+ transferable credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • Completion (or strong recommendation) of College Algebra; readiness for business math and statistics.
  • Progression to the BSBA major requires specific gateway courses (e.g., ENG 101/102, MATH 120, ECON 111/112, CMIS 108) completed with minimum grades and GPA.
Application Deadlines

SIUE’s online BSBA–Economics offers six start dates per year (Fall I/II, Spring I/II, Summer I/II).

University of Illinois Springfield (UIS)

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with Economics Concentration (Online-Friendly)

University of Illinois Springfield offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Economics through its AACSB-accredited College of Business and Management. The degree requires a total of approximately 120 semester credit hours, encompassing general education, business core requirements, concentration courses in economics, and electives.

Students taking a full-time course load can typically complete the program in about four years, though the online-friendly delivery and transfer credit policies allow many learners to accelerate their timeline.

The economics concentration is designed to develop analytical thinking, problem-solving capability, and quantitative literacy so you can apply economic theory to business and policy challenges. The curriculum emphasizes the “economic way of thinking,” and trains you to apply economic concepts to real-world business, governmental, and social issues. The online-friendly modality, with fully online or mixed-mode courses, gives flexibility for working professionals and remote learners.

As part of the BBA structure, you will build a foundation in business disciplines—accounting, management, marketing, operations, information systems—and then deepen in economics through intermediate theory, econometrics, applied economics, and strategic decision making. This blend positions you to engage in sectors where economics and business intersect, such as consulting, analytics, financial services, public-sector planning or strategic management.

Courses and Curriculum

The curriculum begins with foundational courses in both economics and quantitative/analytic tools. You’ll take Introduction to Microeconomics and Introduction to Macroeconomics as part of the core, along with statistics for business and economics. These early courses build your understanding of how markets and policy work, and sharpen your ability to interpret data and key indicators.

At the intermediate level you move into core business courses and economics-focused electives. For example, Managerial Economics and Macroeconomics in a Global Economy cover firm and consumer decision-making, market structures, economic growth and policy in a global context. The inclusion of econometrics and applied business analytics gives you hands-on experience interpreting real business and economic data, supporting the transition from theory to application.

In the upper-division and concentration stage you engage in advanced electives and a required internship or field project. Courses such as Econometrics, Money & Banking, and strategic business economics allow you to explore specialized topics and build portfolio-ready work. The curriculum also integrates business-core capstone or strategic management experiences that synthesize your business and economics learning into professional-style deliverables.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECO 201 – Introduction to Microeconomics (3 units) — Consumer and firm behaviour, market equilibrium, marginal analysis, and welfare implications in business-economics contexts.
  • ECO 202 – Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 units) — Measurement of national income, inflation/unemployment, business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy in domestic and international settings.
  • ECO 213 – Statistics for Business & Economics (3 units) — Foundational statistical tools: probability, inference, regression, data interpretation using business/economic data.
  • ECO 301 – Managerial Economics (3 units) — Application of microeconomic principles to firm decisions: pricing, cost structure, capacity, risk and strategic optimization.
  • ECO 302 – Macroeconomics in a Global Economy (3 units) — Economic growth, open economy macro, trade and finance linkages, policy impacts on business in global markets.
  • ECO 413 – Econometrics (3 units) — Regression modelling, hypothesis testing, data diagnostics, and interpreting economic/business data sets using software tools.
  • ECO 343 – Money and Banking (3 units) — Financial institutions, money supply, interest rates, credit markets and how monetary policy influences business and markets.
  • IPL 300 – Internship (1–3 units) or IPL 301 – Individual Project (1–3 units) — Practical experience: you apply economics/business knowledge in an external organization or through guided project work.
Popular Elective Courses
  • International Trade & Business Strategy
  • Public Finance & Regulation
  • Labor Economics & Workforce Dynamics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Financial Economics & Markets
  • Industrial Organization & Competition Strategy
Practical Experience

The program integrates a mandatory field experience (internship) or individual project to provide applied, real-world exposure. This ensures you not only learn economic models, but also apply them to business or policy contexts—analyzing real data, constructing reports, and presenting to stakeholders.

Online students receive full access to academic advising, virtual tutoring, career services, and digital library resources so you can navigate the degree and build professional readiness no matter where you’re located. Coursework frequently includes team-based simulations, case studies and virtual collaboration tools—preparing you for remote or hybrid work environments.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply microeconomic and macroeconomic principles to business decisions, market behaviour and policy challenges.
  • Use quantitative and econometric tools to analyse economic and business data and interpret results.
  • Integrate economic and business models to assess firm strategy, market structure, regulation and global trade.
  • Communicate analytical findings effectively via written reports, presentations and data visualisations.
  • Customize your elective pathway to align with career interests in analytics, policy, international business or financial services.
  • Graduate with a professional portfolio of applied economics/business work and demonstrate readiness for employment or graduate study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the BBA with Economics Concentration at UIS are equipped for roles such as business analyst, economic analyst, financial data analyst, market researcher, policy analyst, consultant or strategy associate in both private and public sectors. Their skills in economics and business analytics make them well-suited for data-driven roles, including in finance, consulting, government and nonprofits.

The University of Illinois Springfield reports a six-year undergraduate graduation rate of approximately 60%.

Admissions Requirements
  • Completed online application and official high-school transcripts or prior college transcripts for transfer students.
  • Completion of foundational courses in mathematics/statistics and introductory economics is strongly recommended.
  • Minimum cumulative GPA consistent with college and major admission standards; submission of transcripts for all prior institutions.
  • International applicants must meet English-language proficiency requirements if applicable.
Application Deadlines

Multiple annual start dates are available, with rolling admission. Applicants should apply early to secure their preferred term and allow adequate time for transfer credit evaluation, advising and financial aid processes.

DePaul University

Bachelor of Arts in Economics / Bachelor of Science in Business: Economics

DePaul University offers highly respected undergraduate economics degrees—both a BA in Economics and a BSB in Business: Economics. While not fully online for the major, many courses and electives are available in flexible or online formats, making the programs accessible to non-traditional or working students. The BA version is roughly equivalent to 180 quarter hours (~120 semester credit hours), while the BSB version lists 192 quarter hours (~128 semester credit hours) for full completion of the business core plus economics major.

The economics major blends theory, quantitative methods and real-world applications. You’ll develop strong analytical and data skills, the ability to interpret economic phenomena, and the capacity to communicate findings effectively. Because DePaul is located in downtown Chicago, a major business and finance hub, students benefit from internship prospects, industry partnerships and exposure to real-world economic and business settings.

Students can tailor their economics training through focus areas such as Data Analytics, International Economics, Economic Policy & Market Analysis, and Health Economics. These options let you align your degree with career aspirations in consulting, finance, public policy, or data-driven sectors.

The business-economics major (BSB) emphasizes the intersection of economics and business operations—so in addition to standard economics theory and empirical methods, you also engage with business functions, analytics, management, and strategy. This dual orientation is especially useful for roles that demand both economic insight and business acumen.

Transfer-friendly policies apply: DePaul accepts many transfer credits and allows students to apply for combined Bachelor’s + Master’s programs, giving accelerated pathways for those interested in advanced study or high-level analytic roles.

The flexible course delivery (including online/hybrid sections) and Chicago location make the program attractive for students balancing work, internships or other commitments while pursuing a rigorous economics education.

Courses and Curriculum

The curriculum begins with foundational economic courses: Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics are required early, along with a term of business statistics (or equivalent) and analytic coursework (such as Analytics for Economics). These early courses build your ability to use the economic way of thinking—and to interpret data, markets, and decision-making frameworks.

As you move into the intermediate phase, you’ll take Intermediate Microeconomics and Intermediate Macroeconomics (quantitative and theoretical), plus courses such as Money & Banking, Economic Policy, or International Economics depending on focus area. These courses emphasize modelling, strategic behaviour, welfare analysis and policy impacts. You’ll often use statistical software or business tools to interpret data and build empirical arguments.

The upper-division electives and capstone experiences allow specialization and applied work. You might choose courses in Game Theory, Time Series Analysis, Economic Analytics using SAS & R, Sports Economics, Health Economics, or Urban Economics. A senior‐level research or independent project often integrates theory, quantitative methods and applied context—preparing you for jobs or graduate study with a portfolio of work.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECO 105 – Principles of Microeconomics — Consumer/firm behaviour, market equilibrium, welfare and strategy in competitive and non-competitive markets.
  • ECO 106 – Principles of Macroeconomics — National income, growth, inflation, unemployment, monetary/fiscal policy, and globalization linkages.
  • MAT 137 – Business Statistics (or equivalent) — Statistical tools for business/economics: probability, variance, regression and interpretation of business data.
  • ECO 304 – Analytics for Economics — Introduction to game-theoretic thinking, strategic interactions and analytic frameworks in economic and business contexts.
  • ECO 305 – Intermediate Microeconomics — Optimization, cost/production, market structure, welfare, game theory, firm strategy and empirical implications.
  • ECO 306 – Intermediate Macroeconomics — Growth models, business cycles, expectations, policy design, open-economy frameworks and macro-empirical evidence.
  • ECO 322 – Financial Market Regulation — Regulation, market structure, financial oversight, risk, and how regulatory policy shapes financial markets and economy.
  • ECO 377 – Economic Analytics using SAS & R — Time series, panel data, statistical modelling and applied economic analysis using statistical software (Honors/Data Analytics track).
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics & Workforce Dynamics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Health Economics
  • International Trade & Finance
  • Sports Economics
  • Urban Economics & Regional Development
Practical Experience

At DePaul you’ll benefit from Chicago-area opportunities: internships in finance, consulting, government, non-profits; projects that use real data; presentations and consulting-style reports; and participation in the College’s analytics and policy centres. Students build portfolios of deliverables—data visualizations, reports, regression analyses, strategic briefs—that showcase their economic and business-analytics skills.

Small class sizes, faculty with strong research and real-world backgrounds, and the urban business environment help link classroom learning to career readiness. Many students combine their economics major with business, mathematics or data-analytics minors to enhance their employability and academic flexibility.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply micro- and macro-economic theory to analyze firm, market and policy behaviour in business and public contexts.
  • Use quantitative methods, statistics and analytic tools (e.g., SAS, R) to examine economic and business data and test hypotheses.
  • Evaluate competition, regulation, globalization, strategy and financial markets using economic frameworks.
  • Communicate complex analytical results clearly in writing, presentation and data-visual formats for business and policy audiences.
  • Customize your elective pathway to align with career interests—data analytics, policy analysis, international business or consulting.
  • Graduate with a portfolio of applied work that demonstrates readiness for employment or graduate study in economics, business or data-driven roles.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates from DePaul’s economics programs enter careers as economic analysts, business consultants, data scientists, policy advisors, financial strategists and market researchers. The strong ties to Chicago’s major industries, business networks, and governmental agencies support employment and internship opportunities.

More than 90 % of students in the combined bachelor’s+master’s economics track report employment or further study within six months of graduation.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent, with college-preparatory mathematics, writing and social science courses; minimum GPA per university admission standards.
  • Official transcripts from all prior institutions if transfer student; completion of introductory math/statistics recommended before major-level coursework.
  • For business‐economics track: Admission into the Driehaus College of Business (which may require specific gateway courses and GPA thresholds).
  • International applicants must fulfill English-language proficiency requirements where applicable.
Application Deadlines

Applications open for Fall, Spring and Summer entry; priority deadlines typically fall in November for Fall entry and early March for Spring; students are advised to apply as early as possible for course sequencing, scholarships, and internships.

Northern Illinois University (NIU)

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Economics

Northern Illinois University offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in Economics through its Department of Economics. The undergraduate program requires approximately 120 semester credit hours to complete (general education + major + electives). Most full-time students finish in about four years, though transfer students with prior credits may accelerate.

The B.A. version emphasizes economic reasoning and intuitive understanding of socio-economic incentives, while the B.S. version emphasizes statistical and quantitative methods, making it especially suitable for students preparing for graduate study or analytics-intensive careers.

The curriculum begins with foundation courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics and proceeds toward intermediate theory, econometrics, and elective concentrations. Both tracks culminate in a capstone research paper in a 400-level economics course, which allows you to demonstrate your ability to analyze an economic issue and communicate findings professionally.

Courses and Curriculum

The foundation phase includes introductory courses such as Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics, along with foundational mathematics or statistics. These early courses equip you with economic vocabulary, market-based reasoning, and quantitative literacy needed for the major.

In the intermediate phase, you’ll engage in courses such as Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, along with econometrics/statistics applications. These classes emphasise model-building, hypothesis testing, data interpretation, and economic reasoning under uncertainty.

In the upper-division phase you’ll choose restricted electives, participate in a research or capstone course (e.g., ECON 492 or a 400-level econ course with research paper), and tailor your program toward areas such as financial economics, labor economics, public economics or quantitative methods. Projects may involve real datasets, software tools and professional reporting.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECON 260 – Principles of Microeconomics (3 units) — Consumer/firm behaviour, supply and demand, elasticity, market structure and welfare implications.
  • ECON 261 – Principles of Macroeconomics (3 units) — Aggregate output, inflation/unemployment, business cycles, monetary/fiscal policy and open economy dynamics.
  • STAT/ECON – Statistics for Economists (3 units) — Data collection, probability, regression concepts and interpretation of business/economic data (required foundation for major).
  • ECON 301 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (3 units) — Optimization, cost/production, strategic behaviour, and market power in advanced micro contexts.
  • ECON 302 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (3 units) — Economic growth, expectations, business cycles, open economy models and policy trade-offs.
  • ECON 341 – Econometrics I (3 units) — Regression modelling, hypothesis testing, diagnostics and empirical interpretation of economic data (especially for B.S. track).
  • ECON 420 – Money & Banking (3 units) — Financial institutions, interest rate structure, credit markets and monetary policy’s transmission to real economy.
  • ECON 450 – Senior Seminar in Economics / ECON 492 – Capstone Research (3 units) — Independent research project, data analysis, and presentation of economic findings to faculty and peers.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics
  • International Trade & International Finance
  • Public Finance & Regulation
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Industrial Organization & Competition Strategy
  • Health Economics
Practical Experience

NIU emphasises applied learning: you’ll have opportunities for internships, research collaborations and data-analysis projects with peer or faculty sponsorship. The department regularly supports students using real data from local business, government or nonprofits and presenting results at seminars or student conferences.

In upper divisions you engage in professional-style assignments: cleaning economic data, estimating regressions, writing policy briefs, making presentations, and developing a portfolio of work aligned with business or graduate-school expectations.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply microeconomic and macroeconomic theory to analyze markets, firms and policy outcomes.
  • Use statistical, econometric and quantitative tools to interpret economic and business data.
  • Construct and evaluate economic models of firm behaviour, market structure, trade, growth or policy impact.
  • Communicate analytic findings clearly through written and oral presentations and data visualisation.
  • Tailor your major with electives to align with career goals in finance, analytics, government or graduate study.
  • Develop a professional portfolio of economic analysis and research demonstrating readiness for employment or advanced study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the economics program at NIU are prepared for roles such as economic/business analyst, market researcher, policy advisor, financial data specialist, or consultant in business, government or nonprofit sectors. They are also well-positioned for graduate study in economics, business, public policy or law.

Northern Illinois University reports an undergraduate six-year graduation rate of approximately 47 %.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent with college-preparatory coursework in mathematics and English.
  • Declaration of major, submission of official transcripts, and fulfillment of general education and foundational studies requirements at NIU.
  • For the B.S. track: additional prerequisites in mathematics, statistics and intermediate economics recommended before upper-division coursework.
  • International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements where applicable.
Application Deadlines

Applications for Fall or Spring entry follow NIU’s admissions calendar (early November for Spring entry, and early January for Fall priority).

Illinois State University

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Economics

Illinois State University offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in Economics through its Department of Economics. The entire undergraduate program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, which include general education, major coursework and electives. A full-time student typically completes the degree in about four years, though transfer students with prior credit may finish sooner.

The B.A. track emphasizes flexibility and is suited for students who may want to combine economics with other disciplines (e.g., political science, business, mathematics). The B.S. track (or the Managerial Economics sequence) emphasises stronger quantitative and data-analytics components—ideal for students targeting graduate study or analytics-intensive careers.

The major’s curriculum is structured to start with foundational coursework (principles of micro and macroeconomics, introductory mathematics/statistics), then move into intermediate theory and quantitative methods (econometrics, optimisation, statistical tools), and finally upper-division electives plus a senior research component or capstone project. Students in the Managerial Economics sequence complete a more extensive 47-hour major requirement, blending economics with business tools.

Courses and Curriculum

In the early phase of the program, students take introductory courses such as ECO 101 (Principles of Microeconomics) and ECO 102 (Principles of Macroeconomics) plus mathematics or statistics courses (e.g., MAT 121 or MAT 145). These courses build the economic vocabulary and quantitative foundation essential for advanced work.

During the intermediate stage, courses like ECO 301 (Intermediate Microeconomic Theory) or ECO 302 (Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory) and ECO 341 (Econometrics I) begin. Students learn to formalise models of consumer and firm behaviour, macro-economic growth and policy frameworks, and engage in empirical work such as regression modelling and hypothesis testing using real data sets.

Upper-division coursework allows you to specialise via electives in areas such as labor economics, international trade, industrial organisation, public finance or resource economics. The capstone or senior project enables you to conduct independent research, analyse data, and produce professional-style deliverables – sending you into the job market or graduate school with a credible portfolio.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECO 101 – Principles of Microeconomics — Study of consumer choice, firm production, market equilibrium, elasticity and welfare analysis.
  • ECO 102 – Principles of Macroeconomics — Exploration of national output, unemployment/inflation, fiscal and monetary policy and open-economy linkages.
  • STAT/ECON Foundation Course (e.g., ECO 138 or MAT 252) — Introduction to statistical tools, data interpretation, hypothesis testing and business/economic data analysis.
  • ECO 301 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory — Optimization, production and cost theory, market structures, strategic interaction and welfare implications.
  • ECO 302 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory — Economic growth, business cycles, expectations, open-economy models and policy trade-offs.
  • ECO 341 – Econometrics I — Data modelling, regression estimation, diagnostics, causal inference and interpretation of economic/business-oriented datasets.
  • ECO 420 – Money and Banking — Financial institutions, interest rates, money supply process and central-bank policy transmission to firms and households.
  • ECO 450 – Senior Seminar in Economics / Capstone Research — Independent research project requiring data analysis, economic modelling and presentation of findings.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics & Workforce Analytics
  • International Trade & Finance
  • Public Finance & Government Policy Economics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Industrial Organization & Competition Strategy
  • Health Economics
Practical Experience

The economics major includes applied learning opportunities: internships, collaborative research, student clubs (e.g., Economics Student Association), field trips (e.g., to the Federal Reserve) and data-analysis projects embedded in coursework. These experiences help you translate economic theory into professional-style outputs (reports, forecasts, analyses) you can share with employers or graduate programmes.

Advanced courses emphasise hands-on projects: working with regional or national datasets, conducting forecasting, writing policy briefs, giving oral presentations and creating data visualisations. These tasks prepare you to engage in roles that value economic reasoning and analytics.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply microeconomic and macroeconomic frameworks to analyze markets, firms and policy outcomes.
  • Use statistical and econometric methods to interpret economic or business data and make data-driven conclusions.
  • Construct and evaluate economic models of firm behaviour, market structure, trade, growth and policy impact.
  • Communicate analytical findings clearly in written reports and oral presentations with professional polish.
  • Customize your elective pathway to align with career goals in finance, analytics, public policy or graduate study.
  • Develop a portfolio of applied economics work (research project, data analysis, presentation) demonstrating readiness for employment or further study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the economics major at Illinois State University are well-positioned for careers as economic/business analysts, market researchers, policy advisors, financial data specialists or consultants in business, government or nonprofit sectors. Many alumni also pursue graduate-level degrees in economics, business, law or public policy. The rigorous quantitative and applied focus of the major helps you stand out in analytics-driven fields.

Illinois State University reports a six-year undergraduate graduation rate of approximately 56 %.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent with coursework in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry) and English. Completion of core high-school curriculum is required.
  • For applicants transferring to the economics major: Completion of foundational math/statistics (such as MAT 120, MAT 121 or MAT 145) and performance standards depending on sequence (e.g., B or better in MAT 120 or C or better in MAT 121/MAT 145 for general economics sequence).
  • Submission of official transcripts, minimum GPA consistent with ISU admission standards; for the Managerial Economics sequence: minimum 2.5 GPA in required major courses and at least 15 senior hours must be taken at ISU.
  • International applicants must meet English-language proficiency if required by the institution.
Application Deadlines

Illinois State University typically offers applications for Fall and Spring entry. Priority deadlines and scholarship consideration are published each year—applicants are encouraged to apply early to assure course availability and financial-aid review.

What can you do with an online economics degree in Illinois?

An online economics degree can prepare you for careers in finance, banking, consulting, data analysis, market research, and public policy. Graduates often work as financial analysts, business analysts, budget analysts, economic researchers, policy associates, and research assistants in corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and consulting firms.

How long does it take to complete an online economics degree?

A bachelor’s in economics typically takes about four years of full-time study, or less if you transfer prior college credits. Online master’s programs in economics or related fields usually take between one and two years, depending on whether you study full time or part time.

Which Illinois schools offer online economics programs?

Students in Illinois can find online economics options through universities such as the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Illinois State University, DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University. Program formats and concentrations vary, so you can compare options based on cost, schedule flexibility, and career focus.

What courses are included in Illinois online economics degrees?

Core coursework usually features microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and intermediate economic theory. Programs often add quantitative methods, statistics, and data analysis to build your technical skills. Electives may include public finance, international trade, labor economics, money and banking, and industrial organization.

Are online economics degrees from Illinois schools respected by employers?

Yes. When offered by accredited institutions, online economics degrees are generally viewed the same as on-campus programs. Employers tend to focus on your skills, internship or work experience, and the reputation of the university. Online study can also showcase your time management and self-discipline, which are valuable traits in many economics-related roles.

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