Economics

You may not realize it, but you already use economics every day. When you decide if it is time to study or go to bed, spend your money or save it—you are using economics. Economics is the study of how individuals and societies choose to utilize the resources available to them. On a larger scale, economics includes the study of labor, goods and services, investments, taxes, and government spending.

As an economics major you will learn the principles of economic analysis and how to apply these tools in real-world situations.

What makes being an economist exciting is the opportunity to work in so many different fields. The analytical skills economics majors possess are valued in everything from small business and prestigious financial institutions to international non-profits, or even food science and product development. Still more economics graduates go into roles in state and federal government, collecting data and analyzing policy. Whether you choose to forecast trends or work as a consultant for a major investment firm, economists are everywhere.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of economists is projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032—twice the rate of the average for all occupations. Moreover, economists consistently command a relatively high median pay. As of May 2022, economist’s median pay was nearly 2.5 times the average for all occupations.

At Framingham State University, you will have an opportunity to put your skills to work by interning with the University MetroWest Economic Research Center, which is run by our Economics and Finance faculty, and provides real-world economic data for our region to local businesses and communities. There are many other local businesses where our students intern as well, including Fidelity Investments, Bose and TJX. As an Economics major, you will enjoy small class sizes and the ability to get to know faculty and participate in student/faculty research.