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Online Bachelor's in Economics: 2026 Programs
An online bachelor’s in economics is a four-year degree that teaches you to model decision-making under scarcity and to test economic claims against data. Unlike some fields, economics exists as a standalone undergraduate major at nearly every institution that offers it, and it is widely available online. The decision that actually matters is not whether to major in economics but which version of it you take: the BA and the BS cover the same theory core and diverge sharply in mathematics and econometrics.
This page explains the difference between those tracks, the coursework to expect, the prerequisite chain that determines your pacing, and how to judge program quality when no accreditor evaluates economics specifically.
Quick answers
What is an online bachelor’s in economics?
It is a roughly 120-credit undergraduate degree, awarded as either a BA or a BS in Economics, covering microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, statistics and econometrics, and a set of upper-division field electives such as labor, public finance, or international economics.
Should I choose the BA or the BS?
Choose the BS if you want quantitative analyst roles or plan to apply to graduate programs in economics, because it carries more calculus and a deeper econometrics sequence. Choose the BA if you want economics as an analytical foundation alongside broader liberal arts study, and consider adding the math electives anyway – a BA with calculus and two econometrics courses reads much like a BS to employers.
What math will I actually have to take?
At minimum, one semester of calculus and a statistics course. BS tracks commonly require calculus through multivariable, and sometimes linear algebra. Programs that teach intermediate microeconomics with calculus are the ones that keep graduate-school options open.
How many credits is the degree?
Approximately 120 semester hours, typically four years full-time. The economics major itself is usually 36 to 45 of those credits, leaving substantial room for a minor, a second concentration, or transfer credit.
What can I do with an economics bachelor’s?
Financial and investment analysis, management and economic consulting, research assistant positions at agencies and think tanks, pricing and operations analysis, and data-oriented business roles. It is also a common preparation for MBA, law, and public policy programs.
Will a bachelor’s make me an economist?
Generally not under that job title. Positions classified as economist typically require a master’s or a doctorate. The bachelor’s is the entry credential for analyst and research support roles, and the standard preparation for the graduate study that leads to the economist title. See Online Master’s in Economics.
At a Glance
- Common degree titles: BA in Economics, BS in Economics, BS in Applied Economics, BS in Business Economics
- Typical duration: 4 years full-time
- Credits: Approximately 120 semester hours, with 36-45 in the major
- Math foundation: Calculus and statistics at minimum; multivariable calculus and linear algebra on BS tracks
- Accreditation: No programmatic accreditor for economics; verify institutional accreditation
For a full map of this program area, start here: Economics Program Guide
Schools to compare
No school data available.
BA versus BS in economics
Both degrees require the same theory core – principles, intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics – and both are legitimate economics degrees. The difference is what surrounds that core.
The BS typically requires calculus through multivariable, sometimes linear algebra, and often two or more econometrics or quantitative methods courses. Intermediate microeconomics is more likely to be taught in its calculus-based version. The remaining hours skew toward statistics, mathematics, and quantitative field courses.
The BA typically requires one semester of calculus, or occasionally a business-math substitute, plus one statistics and one econometrics course. The hours that the BS spends on mathematics go instead to foreign language, humanities, or additional social science, depending on the institution’s general education structure.
Neither is universally better. The BS is the safer choice if there is any chance you will apply to a graduate economics program, because admissions committees read the math transcript closely and a thin one is difficult to repair after graduation. The BA is a good fit if you want economics as one part of a broader education and are heading toward law, journalism, public administration, or general business work. If you are undecided, take the calculus sequence early – it is far easier to drop math courses from a plan than to add them in your senior year.
Some schools also offer a BS in Business Economics housed in the business school. That version substitutes accounting, finance, and management courses for some of the theory and math, which suits students aiming at corporate roles but is generally weaker preparation for graduate economics. Compare it against a finance degree and a business administration degree rather than assuming it splits the difference.
Typical coursework in a bachelor’s program
| Course Topic | What You Learn |
|---|---|
| Principles of Microeconomics | Supply and demand, elasticity, market structure, consumer and producer surplus |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | National income accounting, growth, unemployment, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy |
| Calculus | Derivatives and optimization – the tools intermediate theory is built on |
| Intermediate Microeconomics | Constrained optimization, production and cost, general equilibrium, welfare analysis |
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | Growth models, aggregate demand and supply, policy transmission, open-economy models |
| Statistics for Economists | Probability, distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, sampling |
| Econometrics | Regression analysis, model assumptions and violations, causal inference, applied software work |
| Field Electives | Labor, public finance, international trade, money and banking, industrial organization, health, environmental |
| Senior Seminar or Thesis | An original empirical paper from research question through results |
Skills you may build
- Translating a policy or business question into a model with explicit assumptions
- Estimating and interpreting regressions, and recognizing when a coefficient does not mean what it appears to
- Distinguishing correlation from a defensible causal claim, and knowing which research designs support which
- Working with real economic data in Stata, R, or Python rather than only textbook datasets
- Writing analytical arguments that survive scrutiny from readers who disagree with the conclusion
Prerequisites and course sequencing
The math chain is what determines how quickly you reach the courses that matter to employers, and it is where four-year plans most often slip. Before you enroll, confirm:
- Which calculus course is required, and whether it is a prerequisite for intermediate microeconomics
- Whether intermediate micro is taught in a calculus-based or a graphical version, and whether both exist
- When econometrics is offered online, and whether the statistics prerequisite is available in the term before it
- Whether the senior seminar or thesis requires econometrics first, which pushes it to your final year
If you are moving faster than a standard four-year plan, compare accelerated economics programs.
Transfer credits and degree planning
Transfer credit can substantially shorten a bachelor’s, particularly for general education, the principles sequence, and introductory calculus and statistics. Rules vary by institution, so confirm:
- The maximum number of transfer credits accepted
- The minimum grade required for a course to transfer
- Whether credits apply to the major core or only to general electives – principles courses, calculus, and statistics usually transfer; intermediate theory and econometrics often must be taken in residence
- Residency requirements, meaning a minimum number of credits completed at the institution
See Affordable Online Economics Degrees for more on managing total program cost.
Accreditation and program quality checks
There is no programmatic accreditor for economics degrees. Verify that the institution holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor – such as HLC or SACSCOC – through the U.S. Department of Education database.
Bachelor’s vs a master’s in economics
A bachelor’s in economics is a workable entry point into analyst, research associate, and consulting roles, and it is the standard preparation for professional graduate programs in law, business, and public policy. A master’s in economics is the level at which the economist job title becomes realistic, and it is also the common route for people who want to specialize in applied econometrics or move into policy research. Whether the additional time and cost make sense depends on which of those destinations you are aiming at.
Compare degree options:
- Online Master’s in Economics
- How Online Economics Degrees Work
- Is an Online Economics Degree Worth It
- Economics Programs by State and City
Data verified: August 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.