The University of Arizona’s Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics Ranks 11th in National Ranking
Oct. 27, 2015
The M.S. program in agricultural and resource economics (AREC) was recently ranked as 11th in a ranking of 137 master’s programs in economics. If compared only to public universities, the program ranks 7th. The ranking is particularly interesting because no master’s program in agricultural and resource economics ranked higher than Arizona’s.
The ranking is based both on qualifications of students prior to matriculation—standardized test scores and grade point average—as well as post-graduation employment—percentage of students with jobs at graduation and within three months of graduation as well as salaries plus bonuses. Top-ranking M.S. programs are able to recruit the best students and ensure they find excellent jobs upon graduating.
The AREC M.S. program is two-pronged: for some it is a terminal degree leading predominately to jobs in industry, government, and non-profit organizations. For others, it is excellent preparation for garnering financial support in the nation’s top Ph.D. programs in agricultural and resource economics. In recent years, just under half of AREC’s graduates have entered Ph.D. programs.
Some of the most talented graduates have landed jobs in industry at salaries exceeding those of recent Ph.D. graduates who found jobs in academia. Many of these graduates find jobs in risk management with companies like American Express, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Discover, and FICO (Fair Isaac) to name a few. Others have found relevant jobs with governmental agencies like the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. Still other recent graduates have found exciting employment with The Nature Conservancy and the Sonoran Institute. Nearly all terminal-degree graduates use data analytics, econometrics, and microeconomic theory to help their employers earn more profit, avoid financial losses, and formulate more effective policies.