Study Economics in Michigan

Earning an online economics degree in Michigan enables you to develop strong analytical and strategic skills while learning at your own pace. Renowned institutions such as Michigan State University, University of Michigan–Flint, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, and Northwood University offer fully or partially online economics programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

Best Michigan Online Economics Degrees

Online Economics Degrees in Michigan

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

  • University of Michigan–Dearborn
  • Central Michigan University
  • Western Michigan University
  • Ferris State University
  • Michigan State University
  • Northwood University
  • University of Michigan–Flint

University of Michigan–Dearborn

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Economics

University of Michigan–Dearborn offers a flexible Economics B.A./B.S. program through the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters. Students can complete the degree by taking a combination of online and in-person classes, making it a strong option for commuters and working adults. The bachelor’s degree typically requires about 120 credit hours in total, including 31–32 credit hours in the economics major plus prerequisites, general education (Dearborn Discovery Core), and free electives.

The program allows you to choose either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science track. The B.A. option leans into the liberal arts, pairing economics with fields like political science, history, or sociology. The B.S. option adds extra STEM and applied-science coursework, giving you a more quantitative profile that’s attractive for data-heavy analyst roles or graduate study in economics, public policy, or analytics.

Economics at UM–Dearborn emphasizes real-world issues such as inflation, unemployment, poverty, crime, and environmental challenges. Courses are built around economic modeling and quantitative analysis, so you learn how to frame questions, build models, work with data, and interpret results in ways that inform policy and business decisions.

Core courses in intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and economic statistics ensure you have a solid technical foundation. From there, you’ll choose upper-level electives in areas like monetary economics, labor markets, industrial organization, environmental and health economics, economic history, and applied econometrics. Many of these courses use practice-based learning, project work, and current data sets.

The program can typically be completed in four years of full-time study. However, students who bring in transfer credits, AP/IB credit, or community college coursework can often accelerate their timeline. The availability of regularly scheduled online economics electives each semester gives added scheduling flexibility for students juggling work and family responsibilities.

Students who want extra rigor can pursue the department’s honors designation by taking additional 4000-level electives and completing a supervised research project. Combined with internships and co-curricular experiences, this can create a strong platform for graduate study in economics, data science, public policy, or law.

Courses and Curriculum

The economics major at UM–Dearborn starts with prerequisites in Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, and college algebra or pre-calculus. These courses introduce you to key economic concepts—such as opportunity cost, trade-offs, market equilibrium, and the role of government—while building the math skills you’ll need for upper-level work.

At the core of the major are intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, and economic statistics. These courses formalize your understanding of consumer and firm behavior, macroeconomic growth and fluctuations, and quantitative methods for working with economic data. You’ll practice building and solving models, interpreting empirical results, and communicating findings in clear, policy-relevant language.

Beyond the core, you’ll select five or more upper-level economics electives. Options range from money and banking to environmental economics, health economics, economic history, labor economics, industrial organization, and econometrics. Many of these courses feature project-based learning, team work, and applications to current policy debates or industry questions. At least one upper-level elective is typically available online each semester, allowing you to keep progressing in the major even if you can’t be on campus every day.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECON 201 – Principles of Macroeconomics – Introduces national income, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. The course emphasizes how fiscal and monetary policy influence the overall performance of the U.S. economy and applies macroeconomic models to current events.
  • ECON 202 – Principles of Microeconomics – Focuses on the behavior of consumers and firms, market supply and demand, and the impact of market structure on prices and output. You’ll learn how incentives shape decision-making and how markets can sometimes fail to produce efficient outcomes.
  • ECON 301 – Intermediate Macroeconomics – A 4-credit, project-based course that examines short-run and long-run macroeconomic performance. Topics include economic growth, unemployment, inflation, and the design and evaluation of fiscal and monetary policy using modern macro models.
  • ECON 302 – Intermediate Microeconomics – A 4-credit theory course that uses models to analyze consumer choice, production and cost, pricing under different market structures, game theory, and information problems. The course emphasizes intuition as well as mathematical representation and practice-based learning.
  • ECON 305 – Economic Statistics – Provides the statistical tools needed to describe data, make inferences, and support evidence-based decision-making. You’ll work with real-world data sets, learn about sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, and develop comfort with quantitative analysis in economics.
  • ECON 311 – Money and Banking – Studies the financial system, financial instruments, and the role of the Federal Reserve. You’ll explore how monetary policy affects interest rates, credit conditions, and macroeconomic outcomes, with case studies drawn from historical recessions and financial crises.
  • ECON 351 – Environmental Economics – Uses economic tools to analyze environmental problems, market failures, externalities, and policy instruments such as taxes, permits, and regulation. The course looks at current environmental policies and debates through an economic lens.
  • ECON 4015 – Introduction to Econometrics – Covers regression techniques and applied econometric methods used in modern economics. You’ll learn to estimate models, test hypotheses, and evaluate policy and business questions with real data, gaining skills that are highly valued in analyst roles.
Popular Elective Courses
  • ECON 325 – Economics of Poverty and Discrimination
  • ECON 331 – Industrial Organization
  • ECON 332 – Sports Economics and Esports
  • ECON 355 – Health Economics
  • ECON 361 – U.S. Economic History
  • ECON 4085 – Public Finance
Practical Experience

Economics students at UM–Dearborn have multiple ways to turn theory into practice. The department offers an Economics Internship (ECON 398), where students work 10–20 hours per week in a professional setting while completing supervised academic work with a faculty member. This experience lets you apply economic tools to real business, policy, or nonprofit challenges and earn credit toward graduation.

Many upper-level courses use practice-based learning and team projects. You might analyze datasets on labor markets, healthcare, or environmental policy; build models of industry competition; or write policy briefs and presentations aimed at non-specialist audiences. Student research projects, independent studies, and honors work further allow you to dive deeper into specific economic questions, often resulting in writing samples and portfolio pieces you can share with employers or graduate programs.

Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of core microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts, theories, and methods.
  • Apply economic models to analyze real-world issues such as growth, inequality, labor markets, environmental policy, and financial stability.
  • Use quantitative and statistical techniques to collect, analyze, and interpret economic data for policy and business decision-making.
  • Critically evaluate economic arguments, research findings, and policy proposals, recognizing assumptions and limitations.
  • Communicate economic analysis clearly in written reports and oral presentations for both technical and general audiences.
  • Work effectively in teams on applied projects that require collaboration, data analysis, and problem-solving.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of the Economics B.A./B.S. at UM–Dearborn pursue careers in business analysis, financial services, government agencies, nonprofits, policy research, and data analytics. The program’s strong quantitative orientation and emphasis on applied projects prepare students for roles such as economic analyst, market researcher, policy analyst, financial analyst, and research associate. Many graduates also continue to master’s programs in economics, public policy, business, data science, or law.

Students benefit from the university’s location near Detroit and the broader southeast Michigan economy, with access to internships and employment in automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and public institutions. Career Services provides resume support, interview preparation, and employer networking events tailored to business and analytical fields. For overall institutional context, the University of Michigan–Dearborn reports a bachelor’s six-year graduation rate of about 56%.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent, with college-preparatory coursework including mathematics (through at least algebra; pre-calculus or calculus recommended) and English.
  • Submission of official high-school transcripts; transfer students must submit transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities.
  • Completion of prerequisite math (e.g., college algebra or pre-calculus) before or early in the major to prepare for intermediate theory and statistics courses.
  • Competitive applicants typically present a solid academic record; some may receive advanced standing through AP/IB or community college transfer credit.
  • International applicants must submit proof of English proficiency (such as TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) and meet any additional documentation requirements.
Application Deadlines

UM–Dearborn admits students for Fall, Winter, and often Summer terms. Priority deadlines for Fall are generally in the early spring, with rolling consideration afterward as space allows. Because course availability and financial aid processing can be time-sensitive, prospective economics majors are encouraged to submit applications and supporting documents several months before their intended start term and to check the university’s admissions website for the most current deadline information.

Central Michigan University (CMU)

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science in Economics

Central Michigan University offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in Economics (Business-Economics major) through its College of Business Administration. The degree typically spans a standard four-year timeframe and includes major coursework in economics plus general education and electives—most students complete it in around 120 credit hours, though the economics major itself requires about 18 to 36 credit hours of upper-division economics.

The program emphasizes a business-oriented economics approach: you learn how businesses identify problems, use data to predict behaviour, and apply economic reasoning to organisational and policy decisions. You’ll develop quantitative skills, analytical thinking, and communication capabilities—all aligning you with roles in business, government, or graduate study.

Students begin with foundational courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematics and statistics, then move into intermediate and advanced topics such as money & banking, international economics, econometrics, and regional economic development. Elective flexibility allows you to tailor your pathway toward analytics, public policy, or business leadership.

There is an opportunity for an Accelerated M.A. in Economics for undergraduates at CMU, enabling you to complete a master’s degree in just one additional year after the bachelor’s—an advantage if you plan graduate study or high-level analytic roles.

While the program is primarily on campus, CMU offers many online and hybrid course options across its Global Campus and has established off-campus/online formats for many foundational and business courses, giving flexibility for commuting or working students.

Courses and Curriculum

The curriculum starts with introductory economics courses such as Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics, along with required mathematics or statistics courses. These foundational courses equip you with the vocabulary of economic theory and quantitative reasoning needed for upper-division work.

Next you progress into intermediate economics theory (Intermediate Microeconomic Theory, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory), as well as courses such as Money & Banking and Introduction to Econometrics. These classes focus on modelling consumer and firm behaviour, understanding aggregate outcomes, and interpreting empirical data using statistical tools.

In the upper-division phase you choose electives aligned with your interests—options include Environmental Economics, International Economics, Labor Economics, Industrial Organization, Forecasting, and Managerial Economics. Many of these courses incorporate projects, case studies, or data analysis assignments, enabling you to produce work that demonstrates real-world application of economics.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECO 201 – Principles of Macroeconomics — Examines aggregate output, inflation, unemployment, business cycles and policy frameworks governing growth and stability.
  • ECO 202 – Principles of Microeconomics — Focuses on the behaviour of consumers and firms, market equilibrium, welfare, competition and strategic decision-making.
  • STA 282QR – Introduction to Statistics — Provides foundational statistical tools for economic and business data: probability, inference, regression basics and data interpretation.
  • ECO 365 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory — Studies optimisation, cost/production, market structure, game theory, and welfare implications of firm/consumer choices.
  • ECO 370 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory — Analyzes growth models, expectations, open-economy macroeconomics, business cycles and policy trade-offs.
  • ECO 306 – Money and Banking — Covers the structure of financial institutions, interest-rate determination, credit markets and monetary policy effects on firms and households.
  • ECO 372 – International Economics — Explores comparative advantage, global trade flows, exchange-rates, policy impacts on firms and nations in a globalised economy.
  • ECO 440 – Managerial Economics — Applies microeconomic theory to managerial decisions: pricing, production, market entry, boundaries of the firm and strategic planning.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Health Economics
  • Economic Development & Growth
  • Law and Economics
  • Forecasting & Business Analytics
Practical Experience

CMU emphasises applied projects and internship opportunities especially via its business college. Students in the economics major engage in research projects, data-analysis assignments, and case studies that mirror professional work—such as assessing real economic or business data, forecasting outcomes, and preparing policy or strategy briefs. The availability of online/hybrid courses allows commuter and working students to participate in these experiences with scheduling flexibility.

The Accelerated M.A. option also encourages undergraduate research and advanced-level engagement; applied seminars often involve writing and presenting, giving you portfolio-ready work for employment or further study.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply microeconomic and macroeconomic theories to analyze markets, firms, households and policy outcomes.
  • Use statistical and econometric tools to interpret economic and business data and support decision-making.
  • Evaluate how regulation, globalization, competition and structural change affect economic outcomes for organizations and nations.
  • Communicate economic analysis clearly through professional writing, presentations and data visualisations for business or policy audiences.
  • Select elective coursework and applied projects to align with career goals in analytics, consulting, policy, finance or graduate study.
  • Develop a professional portfolio of applied economic work—research reports, data analyses and presentations—demonstrating readiness for employment or advanced study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of Central Michigan University’s economics major are prepared for roles such as economic analyst, market researcher, financial or business data analyst, consultant, policy advisor, and management strategist in private, public or nonprofit sectors. The combination of business-economics focus and applied skill training makes alumni competitive for employment or graduate study in economics, business analytics, public policy or law.

Central Michigan University reports a six-year undergraduate graduation rate of approximately 61.7%.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent with college-preparatory coursework including mathematics (algebra II, pre-calculus or calculus recommended) and English composition.
  • Submission of official high-school transcripts; transfer applicants must provide transcripts from all previously attended colleges.
  • For the economics major: completion of or readiness for prerequisite mathematics/statistics courses and strong performance in early economics courses is strongly advised.
  • International applicants must provide proof of English-language proficiency if applicable.
Application Deadlines

Applications at CMU are accepted for Fall and Spring semesters. Priority deadlines may vary by year, and students are encouraged to apply early—especially if considering internships, graduate options or online/hybrid scheduling.

Western Michigan University (WMU)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Economics

Western Michigan University offers three distinct undergraduate majors in economics: B.A., B.S., and B.B.A., all through the Department of Economics. Each program requires the completion of approximately 120 credit hours for the bachelor’s degree, including general education, major requirements, and electives. The economics-major portion includes a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework in economics. Full-time students typically complete the degree in about four years.

The B.A. track is designed for flexibility and aligns well with students pursuing double majors or liberal-arts interests. The B.B.A. is housed in the Haworth College of Business and blends business core courses with the economics major—ideal for those targeting business-oriented roles. The B.S. track provides additional quantitative and mathematical preparation—better suited for students planning graduate study in economics or analytics-intensive careers.

All tracks emphasize economic thinking, empirical methods, and data analysis. Core courses such as “Exploring Economic Data” and “Econometrics” build technical skills in modelling and interpreting economic information. WMU also offers an Accelerated M.A. in Applied Economics for undergraduates who wish to begin graduate-level coursework while finishing their bachelor’s—a strong option for students interested in advanced roles.

While the program is primarily campus-based in Kalamazoo, many economics courses, including elective and statistics/data courses, are available in flexible scheduling or online/hybrid formats—giving some opportunity for working students or those with schedule constraints.

The location in southwest Michigan and the strong business/Economics connection in Haworth provide students with access to applied research, internships, and regional employer networks—preparing them for roles in consulting, policy analysis, finance, and business strategy.

Courses and Curriculum

The foundational courses include ECON 2010 (Principles of Microeconomics) and ECON 2020 (Principles of Macroeconomics) plus mathematical prerequisite(s) such as MATH 1160 (Finite Math) or Pre-Calculus for the B.A./B.B.A., or Calculus I for the B.S. track. These early courses establish economic vocabulary—supply/demand, growth, inflation, market structure—as well as quantitative literacy needed for later work.

Students then transition into intermediate economics theory and data methods: courses such as Intermediate Macroeconomics (ECON 4060), Econometrics (ECON 4090), Exploring Economic Data (ECON 3390) and similar upper-division electives. These classes introduce regression, forecasting, optimisation, business decision-making models and empirical analysis of real economic problems—so you gain experience working with data, testing hypotheses, and interpreting results in context.

In the upper-division phase students select electives aligned with their interests—examples include Managerial Economics, Money & Banking, International Economics, Environmental Economics, Labor Economics, and Economic Development. Many of these courses require project or research work, and the program encourages experiential learning: you will work on data sets, produce reports, present findings, and integrate theory with practice.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECON 2010 – Principles of Microeconomics — Considers consumer/firm decision-making, market equilibrium, welfare, competitive and non-competitive markets.
  • ECON 2020 – Principles of Macroeconomics — Studies national income, inflation, unemployment, business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy, and long-term growth issues.
  • ECON 3390 – Exploring Economic Data — Teaches data-collection, cleaning, visualization, regression basics and interpreting economic/business datasets; often a gateway to upper-level empirical courses.
  • ECON 4060 – Intermediate Macroeconomics — Focuses on growth theory, open-economy macro, expectations, policy effects and modelling aggregate economy behaviour.
  • ECON 4090 – Econometrics — Introduces regression modelling, hypothesis testing, diagnostic checking; you analyse real datasets and interpret empirical results for business and policy use.
  • ECON 3200 – Money and Banking — Examines financial institutions, credit markets, interest rate structure, monetary policy and their effects on firms and households.
  • ECON 3700 – International Economics — Explores trade theory, exchange-rates, global capital flows, policy implications for business and national economies.
  • ECON 4400 – Managerial Economics — Applies microeconomic theory to managerial decisions: pricing, production, strategy, market entry, and firm boundary issues.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Health Economics
  • Industrial Organization & Competition Strategy
  • Public Finance & Tax Policy Economics
  • Economic Development & Globalisation
Practical Experience

At Western Michigan University you will have access to applied learning through the Department of Economics and the Haworth College of Business. Many courses incorporate case studies, data-analysis projects, and reports that mimic professional work in business, government or non-profit settings. You may participate in internship opportunities facilitated by the business college or economics department, work with real datasets, present findings in class or to external stakeholders, and build portfolio-ready deliverables.

Upper-division seminars emphasise independent research or applied projects. The department encourages students to join the Economics Student Association, attend speaker events, and engage in collaborative projects—preparing you for consultant, analyst or policy roles right after graduation or for advanced study.

Learning Outcomes
  • Apply microeconomic and macroeconomic theories to analyse markets, firms, households and policy outcomes.
  • Use statistical and econometric tools to analyse economic and business data and support decision-making.
  • Evaluate how competition, regulation, globalization and trade shape economic outcomes for organizations and nations.
  • Communicate analytical insights clearly through written reports, presentations and data visualisations for business or policy audiences.
  • Tailor your elective coursework and research project to align with career goals in analytics, consulting, finance or public policy.
  • Develop a professional portfolio of applied economic work including research, analysis and presentation to demonstrate readiness for employment or advanced study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of Western Michigan University’s economics major enter careers as business or economic analysts, consultants, financial and data analysts, policy advisors, market researchers, or strategy professionals in firms, public agencies or non-profits. The quantitative B.S. track also prepares you for graduate studies in economics, business analytics or data science. The business-economics B.B.A. option provides strong preparation for roles in corporate finance, management consulting and strategic business operations.

Western Michigan University reports an undergraduate six-year graduation rate of approximately 56.3%.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent with strong background in mathematics (algebra II, pre-calculus or calculus recommended) and English writing.
  • Submission of official high school transcripts; transfer students must submit transcripts of all prior college-level coursework.
  • Completion of or readiness for required mathematics/statistics courses before enrolling in upper-division economics classes.
  • Competitive applicants will have completed intermediate algebra or pre-calculus and at least an introductory statistics or data-analysis course.
  • International applicants must meet English-language proficiency requirements and provide credential evaluations if applicable.
Application Deadlines

Western Michigan University accepts applications for Fall and Spring semesters. Priority deadlines are generally in early November for transfer students and early February for first-time freshmen for the Fall term. Prospective economics majors are encouraged to apply early and confirm course scheduling, advising, and internship planning.

Ferris State University

Bachelor of Science in Economics

Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, offers a newly launched Bachelor of Science in Economics through its College of Business. The program was introduced in fall 2022. It requires approximately 120 credit hours of total undergraduate study, including economics major requirements plus general education and electives.

The BS in Economics at Ferris combines classical economic theory with a contemporary business core, making it ideal for students aiming for careers in business, finance, public policy, or law. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking, applied data and model-based problem solving, and communication of economic insights.

Students progress from foundational micro- and macroeconomics, statistics, and mathematics into intermediate theory and empirical methods, and finally upper-level electives focused on applied topics such as money and banking, international economics, development and entrepreneurship. Opportunities for research, engagement with faculty-led initiatives such as the Fed Challenge, and internship experiences enrich the program.

The applied component is strong: students are encouraged to join the Economics Book Club, participate in the Fed Challenge team, and engage in real-world projects that prepare them for high-impact roles. Ferris emphasizes the return on investment and career readiness of the economics major, pointing to strong starting salaries for economics graduates.

While primarily campus-based, Ferris offers business and related coursework in online or statewide formats—giving flexibility to students who may combine on-campus and online courses. Students who transfer in previous college credit, AP/IB credit or community-college courses may accelerate their completion timeline.

Courses and Curriculum

The introductory phase of the major begins with Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics along with prerequisite mathematics and statistics courses. These foundational classes establish the language of economics, key concepts such as supply/demand, comparative advantage, inflation/unemployment, and equip you with quantitative reasoning needed for deeper coursework.

In the intermediate stage, students take courses such as Intermediate Microeconomic Theory, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, and Economic Statistics/Econometrics. These courses focus on optimization, cost/production analysis, growth theory, and empirical data interpretation. The curriculum uses real datasets and case studies to tie economic models to actual business and policy decisions.

The upper-division portion allows specialization: electives include Money & Banking, International Economics, Economic Development & Entrepreneurship, Health and Environmental Economics. These courses often require projects or research papers, enabling you to analyze a real industry or policy issue, apply economic analysis, and present professional-style findings. This results in a portfolio of applied work you can show to employers or graduate schools.

Some of the core courses that you will take include:

  • ECON 221 – Principles of Macroeconomics — Examination of aggregate economic indicators, inflation/unemployment dynamics, fiscal and monetary policy, and how national economies respond to shocks.
  • ECON 222 – Principles of Microeconomics — Analysis of consumer and firm behaviour, market mechanisms, welfare, competition and efficiency in various market structures.
  • STA 282QR – Introduction to Statistics (Quantitative Reasoning) — Basics of data description, probability, regression and inference, preparing students to work with economic data.
  • ECON 365 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory — Optimization, cost structures, market power, strategic behaviour, and welfare implications within micro-economic frameworks.
  • ECON 370 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory — Models of growth, business cycles, expectations, open-economy macroeconomics and policy trade-offs under dynamic settings.
  • ECON 306 – Money and Banking — Role of financial institutions, interest-rate determination, central-bank policy transmission, credit markets and implications for firms/households.
  • ECON 372 – International Economics — Comparative advantage, trade/finance policy, exchange-rates, globalization of markets and firm strategy in a global context.
  • ECON 440 – Managerial Economics (or Applied Economics Elective) — Application of microeconomic theory to managerial decisions, forecasting, pricing strategy, market entry, performance analytics.
Popular Elective Courses
  • Labor Economics
  • Environmental & Resource Economics
  • Health Economics
  • Economic Development & Entrepreneurship
  • Industrial Organization & Competition Strategy
  • Public Finance & Tax Policy Economics
Practical Experience

Ferris State emphasizes experiential learning: economics students can join the Fed Challenge team that researches economic conditions and presents policy recommendations to expert judges. The Economics Book Club offers weekly discussions linking theory to current events. Internships, faculty-mentored research, and data-analysis projects give students real-world insight and boost their professional portfolios.

Assignments across the upper-division courses often replicate analyst work: you clean real datasets, run econometric analysis, write policy or business briefs, and present findings to business or academic audiences. This helps bridge classroom learning and workplace expectations, preparing you to step into roles that demand economic reasoning and data literacy.

Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate understanding of core microeconomic and macroeconomic principles and apply them to business, financial and policy problems.
  • Use statistical and econometric tools to collect, analyse and interpret economic and business data for decision-making.
  • Construct and evaluate economic models of consumer behaviour, firm strategy, market outcomes, growth and policy intervention.
  • Communicate economic analysis clearly via professional writing, presentations and data visualizations for business or policy audiences.
  • Select and complete elective coursework and applied projects that align with career goals in business analytics, finance, consulting, public policy or law.
  • Graduate with a professional portfolio of applied economics work—research, data analysis, and presentation—that demonstrates readiness for employment or advanced study.
Career Preparation & Outcomes

Graduates of Ferris State University’s BS in Economics are prepared for careers as economic or business analysts, market researchers, financial data specialists, budget and policy analysts, consultants and strategy professionals in corporations, government agencies and nonprofits. The applied training, business-core integration and campus resources help students transition directly into professional roles or graduate programs in economics, business or data analytics.

Ferris State University reports an undergraduate six-year graduation rate of about 57%.

Admissions Requirements
  • High school diploma or equivalent with college-preparatory coursework in mathematics (algebra II or higher), English composition and social sciences.
  • Submission of official high-school transcripts; transfer applicants must submit all prior college transcripts and meet transfer articulation standards.
  • Completion of, or demonstrated readiness for, mathematics/statistics and English writing prior to major coursework.
  • International applicants must meet English-language proficiency requirements and provide credential evaluations if necessary.

What careers can you pursue with an online economics degree in Michigan?

Graduates can pursue roles in finance, banking, insurance, data analytics, consulting, market research, and public policy. Typical job titles include financial analyst, business analyst, budget analyst, economic research assistant, risk analyst, and policy analyst at corporations, banks, nonprofits, and government agencies across Michigan and beyond.

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

A bachelor’s degree in economics usually takes about four years of full-time study. If you bring in transfer credits from community college or prior university coursework, you may be able to finish sooner. Online master’s programs in economics or applied economics often take 12–24 months, depending on your course load and whether you study full time or part time.

What courses and skills are covered in Michigan’s online economics degrees?

Core courses typically include microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, intermediate economic theory, and statistics. Many programs add classes in money and banking, public finance, international economics, labor economics, and economic policy. You also build skills in data analysis, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and written and oral communication, often using spreadsheets or statistical software to work with real economic data.

What are the admissions requirements and costs for online economics programs in Michigan?

Admissions requirements for bachelor’s programs usually include a high school diploma or equivalent, minimum GPA, official transcripts, and evidence of math readiness. Master’s programs typically require an accredited bachelor’s degree, prerequisite coursework in economics or math, transcripts, and sometimes a resume or statement of purpose.

Tuition varies by institution and residency status, but many students use a mix of federal financial aid, state aid, scholarships, employer tuition benefits, and payment plans to manage costs.

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