NYU vs USC for economics: which is better for an undergraduate economics major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is this: NYU gives you a more economics-focused environment in New York with especially strong access to finance and policy-adjacent opportunities, while USC gives you a broader campus experience with strong alumni reach and excellent West Coast connections. For undergraduate economics specifically, NYU is more often the school people point to first because economics is a particularly visible academic strength there. USC is still very solid, but its biggest edge is often the overall student experience, network, and flexibility across business, economics, and related fields.

At NYU, economics benefits from the university’s location and from being taken seriously as a core academic area. Students interested in research, quantitative coursework, finance, consulting, public policy, or eventual graduate study often find a lot of relevant infrastructure nearby, including internships during the school year. That matters because economics is a field where being in a major job market can shape your experience long before graduation.

USC offers a strong economics education too, and it can be especially appealing if you want a more traditional residential campus and a very active alumni network. In Los Angeles, you still have access to internships and major employers, and USC students often do well in business-related paths. If you think you may want to blend economics with communication, entrepreneurship, public policy, or other interdisciplinary interests, USC can feel more expansive in that way.

If the question is strictly which school is more highly regarded for undergraduate economics itself, I would lean NYU. Its economics reputation is more central to the university’s academic identity, and the New York setting is unusually useful for internships and post-grad placement.