University of Washington vs Dartmouth for economics: which is better for an undergrad econ major?

For an undergraduate economics major, Dartmouth is usually the stronger place if your priorities are faculty access, small classes, and a department built around undergrads. If you want close discussion-based classes and a campus culture where undergraduates are the clear center of attention, Dartmouth has a real edge.

Dartmouth tends to fit the student who wants economics to feel personal and high-touch. That matters in economics because the strongest undergraduate experiences often come from advanced seminars, empirical research, and mentorship, not just from the department’s name.

University of Washington makes more sense for the student who wants the resources of a large public research university and is comfortable being more self-directed. UW has a respected economics department, a broad course menu, and access to a major urban economy in Seattle, which can be useful for internships and applied interests. For a student who is proactive about office hours, research opportunities, and navigating a bigger system, UW can absolutely deliver a strong economics education.

The tradeoff is that UW is a much larger university, so the experience can feel less curated. Intro and intermediate courses are more likely to be bigger, and faculty access may take more initiative. Some students thrive in that environment because they like independence and want flexibility across departments, especially if they may combine economics with data, policy, business-adjacent work, or tech-oriented interests.

For pure undergraduate experience in economics, I would lean Dartmouth. For a student who values scale, lower cost if that applies, and the opportunities that come with a major public university in Seattle, UW can be the smarter pick.