M.S. Program

Holly Cook
"The program perfectly complemented my undergraduate degree with more rigorous economics coursework and applied research experience. The skills I developed have opened doors for career opportunities that would not have otherwise been possible.”
Holly Cook
Trey Boyle
"I have already learned so much after one month in my new job and am excited about the future. While completing all of this analysis, I realized how grateful I am to have attended ISU and completed the MSAE program as it gave me the supporting background knowledge that has allowed me to catch on quickly in my new career.”
Trey Boyle
Grant Durbahn
“Going through the research process is an excellent opportunity to get and work with hands-on data, and to answer questions, which are all super marketable skills. Wendong and Peter are fantastic. They were a great help and made research a very enjoyable experience.”
Grant Durbahn

The Department of Economics MS program offers two degrees—an MS in Economics (MSE) and an MS in Agricultural Economics (MSAE). Our flexible, one-year program has a proven placement record and is a great value added for both undergraduate students and working professionals. The program maximizes graduate’s investment in education, provides research training, and equips graduates with the skills needed to enter advanced positions in the local, national, and global job markets, or to pursue further graduate studies in related fields.

We are now accepting online applications. There is no formal deadline for application; however, applications received before February 15 are prioritized for scholarship consideration.

Questions? Please email M.S. Program Director Dr. Hongli Feng at hfeng@iastate.edu.

Career Opportunities

Our MS program increases employability and earning power and grows students’ networks with like-minded peers, making it a great investment of time and money. Program graduates can find jobs at the sweet spot between a Bachelor’s degree and a PhD degree (see example graduates’ job placements).

Coursework

Coursework in the MS program focuses on training students for stronger quantitative and technical skill, improved critical thinking, and better problem solving. Specifically, the core courses cover foundations of economics and practical econometrics. Students can choose to enroll in either MSE or MSAE. Both have the same required coursework with one difference—the MSE requires a macroeconomics course and MSAE does not. Students can customize their coursework based on their individual interests.

Tuition and Fees and Expenses

The 2023–2024 tuition is $6,194 per semester for Iowa residents, $14,297 per semester for nonresidents, and $15,181 for international students. Graduate students are also responsible for mandatory fees of approximately $750 per semester.

For the most up-to-date tuition information, please see Iowa State University’s Detailed Tuition and Fees Information.

See the Estimated Grad Student Costs for estimated student expenses for a nine-month academic year. These figures are only estimates and can vary from student to student.

Financial Assistance

The MS program provides both merit-based and needs-based scholarships. All applications are reviewed for scholarship opportunities. Applications received early are prioritized for scholarship consideration.

Ready to join the Department of Economics?

Apply now or review our application process.