BC MSAE among top three online master's programs in economics
The Boston College M.S. in Applied Economics degree program, offered through the Woods College of Advancing Studies, is ranked third among the top 10 online master's programs in economics, according to a new survey by consumer education site Forbes Advisor.
BC's program, which was second only to those offered by John Hopkins and Purdue universities, has the second-highest graduation rate (91%) among the top private and public university offerings listed, as well as the highest median annual earnings among alumni 10 years after graduation ($103,937).
Aleksandar Tomic (Lee Pellegrini)
"This ranking reflects the dedication of our entire community—faculty, students, and alumni," said Aleksandar Tomic, senior program director for the MSAE and associate dean for strategy, innovation, and technology at the Woods College. "We have taken considerable care to translate quality education to the online format and are happy to see our efforts recognized on the national scale.
"Our focus has always been on applied skills that translate directly to the labor market, and a No. 1 one ranking in post-graduate earnings is the clearest evidence that this approach is working," Tomic said. "I could not be prouder of our MSAE team and community."
Offered full- or part-time, the Woods College program prepares students to evaluate policies and programs, develop forecasts, understand consumer behavior, and analyze market efforts, all with an emphasis on ethical decision making. Its challenging curriculum includes core requirements that provide a solid foundation in the theoretical and quantitative tools of economic analysis, as well as five electives in subjects like big data, health care economics, marketing research, and economic development, taught by a faculty of accomplished scholars and industry practitioners.
The program also offers a fifth-year option for Boston College undergraduates majoring or minoring in economics in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences or taking an economics concentration in the Carroll School of Management. The option awards them advanced standing for two courses, allowing them accelerated completion of the MSAE.
The Forbes Advisor ranking methodology, according to its website, is based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations, with review by an advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts.
The full top ten ranking is available here.