Georgetown vs. Richmond for economics: which school is better for an undergraduate economics major?

For an undergraduate economics major, Georgetown usually offers the stronger overall platform if you want economics tied closely to policy, finance, international affairs, and access to internships during the school year. Its Washington, DC location matters a lot for econ students because it connects directly to the Federal Reserve, World Bank, IMF, consulting firms, think tanks, and government agencies. Georgetown’s economics program also benefits from a large academic ecosystem and a student culture that is very oriented toward public policy, business-adjacent work, and global affairs.

Richmond makes more sense for the student who wants a more intimate undergraduate experience and closer faculty access. Its liberal arts setting often means smaller classes, easier relationship-building with professors, and a campus culture that may feel less pre-professional and less intense than Georgetown’s. For learning economics well at the undergraduate level, that can be a real advantage, especially if you value discussion-heavy classes, individualized mentoring, and the chance to stand out more easily in research or department life.

Richmond is also appealing if you want a strong foundation in economics without feeling like you have to compete constantly for attention or opportunities. A motivated student there can absolutely prepare well for graduate school, especially by building close faculty relationships, doing research, and taking quantitative coursework seriously. The main tradeoff is that Richmond does not have Georgetown’s same built-in DC network for semester-time internships and policy-facing opportunities.

So the choice depends on what kind of economics student you are. If you want the broader name recognition in econ-adjacent fields and the deepest access to policy and internship infrastructure, Georgetown has the edge. If you want a more personal undergraduate academic environment where teaching and faculty connection may shape your experience more directly, Richmond can be the more rewarding place to study economics.