Ph.D. in Economics

UC Irvine economics Ph.D. candidate Santiago Campos-Rodriguez uses inside access to unique data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica for trade and labor research

About our Program

From a lensworthy location and culture of collaboration to field-shaping faculty and powerhouse programs, the reasons top students choose the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences for graduate study are many. Ranked #18 among all public economics programs in the country (U.S. News & World Report), the UCI graduate program in economics offers students six years of funding.

Scholars in the department have a proven track record of earning competitive research funding from national agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Army Office of Research, and U.S. Department of Agriculture; from private foundations including the Russell Sage Foundation and Arnold Foundation; and from campus-level fellowships, such as the Public Impact, Fletcher Jones and Chancellor's Club fellowships.

The department has achieved national stature by attracting well-known senior scholars to its faculty and through the advancement of a host of young economists who have achieved national prominence. Graduate students within the department have incredible opportunities to publish alongside these world-renowned faculty.

And if that wasn't enough, the UCI campus - located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach - is the #1 university doing the most for the American dream (New York Times College Access Index), and in the top 10 for best value (Princeton Review).

Learn more about

Ph.D. in Economics Program

Recent Rankings

#01

university doing the most for the American dream
- New York Times College Access Index

#02

"coolest school" for sustainability efforts
- Sierra Club Magazine

top10

best public university in the U.S.
- U.S. News & World Report

#18

best public economics program in the U.S.
- U.S. News & World Report

Quick Facts

LOCATION
Campus is located less than 10 miles from Newport Beach.

FUNDING
Admitted students are offered 6 years of funding.

SPECIALIZATION
Special programs in transportation economics and public choice are available to interested students.

DEGREE
Ph.D.; a master's degree may be earned while in pursuit of the Ph.D.

ENROLLMENT
Full-time, on-campus with housing.

METHODOLOGY
Quantitative, qualitative, and multi-method approaches to micro and macro issues.

Recent Job Placements

Amazon

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Google

Marquette University

National University of Singapore

Northeastern University

Research Specialties

Development economics

Economic history

Experimental economics

Industrial organization

International economics

Labor economics

Public economics

Transportation economics

Urban economics

Student Voices

Building bridges

UC Irvine economics Ph.D. candidate Santiago Campos-Rodriguez uses inside access to unique data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica for trade and labor research

What makes us UNIQUE

The department has 34 permanent faculty members with research and teaching interests that span a broad range of fields. In addition to strengths in micro theory, macroeconomics, and econometrics, the department has expertise in many applied fields.

UCI economists pursue research with real-world policy impacts in areas including:

Minimum wage debate

California policy toward enterprise zones

Regulation of airline alliances

California high-speed rail demand forecasts

Public health

Government regulation

Students have an opportunity to earn a master's degree while in pursuit of their Ph.D. And graduate students from UCI's economics program have gone on to work in high-tech startups, research consultancy companies, government offices, and in professorial posts around the world.

Life as a UCI Ph.D. student is really fun... we find time to work and play here.

- Nikki Tavasoli, '20

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UCI's campus is beautiful, with Aldrich Park, a 19-acre botanical garden with more than 11,000 trees, at its center. The campus is also less than 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and beaches.

If funding, opportunities to publish, and a proven track record of excellence in the field are what you're looking for in a graduate program, contact us today to learn more about UCI economics.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Learn more about the Ph.D. Program in Economics

MEET OUR EXCITING FACULTY

Core Faculty

REQUIREMENTS

Program Requirements & Typical Program