Graduate Programs

Why Pursue a Graduate Degree at Iowa State?

Thank you for your interest in the graduate program at Iowa State University. We're proud of the strong academic tradition we've established and are excited to welcome new students. We know the process of selecting the right program can be stressful and we're here to help you navigate that process.

The Department of Economics presents a unique tradition of excellence in graduate education, offering two master's programs and doctorate degrees in economics and agricultural economics. All emphasize rigorous analysis and advance training in economic theory, econometrics, and several traditional and novel applied fields of inquiry.

The department’s graduate student body is a multinational mix of about 80 students representing 16 countries. The students and faculty in our department have created an atmosphere of engaged learning and collaborative research. They interact frequently in seminars and workshops, as well as in informal settings like department picnics and morning coffee hours. That's one of the reasons that the Iowa State Economics Ph.D. program ranks highly in national surveys, whether judged by research activity, faculty productivity, student support, or quality of education. We hope you’ll find most of the information you’re looking for on this website; however, if you have any questions, please contact us and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. We look forward to working with you on this next step in your academic pursuit.


The Master of Science in Economics (MSE) or Agricultural Economics (MSAE) are one-year professional-track programs designed to yield job-ready graduates with advanced training in applied economics.


The Ph.D. program, with majors in economics and agricultural economics, ranks at or near the top when compared to those at other schools, in research activity, faculty productivity, student support, and quality of education.