Williams vs. Carleton for economics: which is better for an undergraduate economics major?

For a student who wants economics to feel especially central, Williams often has the edge. Its economics department is one of the most prominent parts of the college, the school is unusually well known among economists for undergraduate teaching, and it has a long track record of sending students into top PhD programs, finance, consulting, and policy roles. The tutorial system can also be a real plus if you want discussion-heavy, high-accountability classes rather than mostly standard lecture formats.

Carleton makes a lot of sense for the student who wants excellent economics training in a more understated, collaborative, and intellectually broad environment. Its economics department is strong and well respected, and Carleton students do very well after graduation, but the school’s culture is a bit less prestige-driven and a bit more uniformly academic across disciplines. If you want serious economics without feeling like the department dominates campus identity, Carleton can be very appealing.

Carleton also has a location advantage in some practical ways. Being near the Twin Cities can help with access to internships during the academic year, especially in business, nonprofits, and public policy. The trimester calendar can be a plus if you like taking more classes and exploring adjacent fields like math, political science, or statistics.