BA Economics

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Johns Hopkins University

Program Overview

Economics explores how markets function, economies operate, and the government's role within them. The Department of Economics offers a major, a minor, and a financial economics minor through the Center for Financial Economics. Many students pair economics courses with other disciplines.

How US Universities Assess Applicants

US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.

Profile Assessment: Applicants are generally assessed on their preparation in English, social sciences, research and quantitative reasoning. Statistics may be particularly helpful for Psychology, Education Research, Public Policy and other research-based programs. Volunteering, tutoring, community projects, advocacy, research, student leadership and activities involving communication or social issues may strengthen the application.
Extracurricular activities: Estimated extracurricular contribution: 20–25%. Johns Hopkins values curiosity, initiative, collaboration and engagement with meaningful problems. Research, public service, independent projects, and academic exploration can be valuable. Activities do not all need to be related to the intended major.
Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.

Career Options

Economist – Analyze economic data and trends to advise government agencies private corporations or consulting firms on policy markets or business strategy
Investment Banking Analyst – Support capital raising mergers and acquisitions and financial transactions by building detailed financial models and conducting valuations at investment banks
Data Analyst or Data Scientist – Use programming languages like Python R and SQL and statistical techniques to analyze large datasets and provide actionable insights for business or policy decisions
Actuary – Combine economics statistics and mathematics to assess and manage financial risks for insurance companies pension funds and financial service firms
Management Consultant – Advise organizations across industries on operational efficiency market entry and strategic challenges to improve overall performance
Financial Analyst – Evaluate company financial statements market conditions and investment opportunities to guide corporate finance portfolio management or banking decisions
Policy Analyst – Research and assess public policies related to economics labor health or education for think tanks NGOs or government agencies
Quantitative Analyst or Econometrician – Apply advanced quantitative methods and econometric models to forecast economic outcomes and guide investment or policy decisions
Certified Public Accountant CPA – Provide auditing tax planning and financial consulting services combine economic understanding with regulatory compliance in accounting firms or corporations
Economic Researcher – Conduct academic or applied research for universities government bodies like the Federal Reserve or Bureau of Labor Statistics or international organizations
Marketing Analyst – Analyze consumer data and market trends to optimize pricing strategies product launches and promotional campaigns for corporations
Financial Risk Analyst – Identify and quantify financial risks in banking insurance or corporate finance to develop risk mitigation strategies
International Development Specialist – Work on economic development projects focused on poverty reduction trade or policy reform for international agencies like USAID or the World Bank
Federal Reserve Analyst or Central Banker – Support monetary policy economic research and financial regulation to promote economic stability and growth at regional Federal Reserve Banks or the Board of Governors
Entrepreneur or Startup Founder – Leverage economic principles to build businesses especially in sectors like fintech healthtech or analytics-driven platforms