UC Davis vs Brandeis for economics: which is better for an undergrad econ major?

For undergraduate economics, UC Davis usually offers the stronger overall platform if you want a larger, more established econ department with more course breadth, more quantitative options, and stronger built-in ties to California policy, agriculture, and business-related sectors. Brandeis can still be a very good choice, especially if you want smaller classes earlier, closer access to professors, and a more intimate academic setting. For pure program strength and range at the undergraduate level, I would lean UC Davis, while Brandeis makes more sense for a student who values close mentorship enough to trade some scale.

UC Davis fits the student who wants a broad economics training with room to explore applied micro, macro, econometrics, policy, and related quantitative work in a department that serves a lot of econ majors. Being part of a major public research university matters here: there tend to be more upper-level offerings, more faculty doing varied research, and more pathways into research assistant work, especially for students who are proactive. Davis also benefits from proximity to Sacramento, which can help with internships connected to state government, policy, regulation, and public-sector economics.

Brandeis fits the student who learns best in smaller academic environments and wants faculty access to be a central part of the experience. Its economics department has a strong intellectual reputation, and undergrads often find it easier to build real relationships with professors, which can be especially useful for recommendation letters and grad school preparation. If you are the kind of student who will take advantage of office hours, seminars, and individualized mentorship, Brandeis can punch above its size.

For internships, UC Davis has the edge in volume and variety simply because of its scale and California location, though you may need to be more self-directed in a larger system. For grad school preparation, either can work, but the better setup depends on how you thrive: Davis is stronger for students who want rigorous quantitative training and many options, while Brandeis is appealing for students who want close guidance and are likely to stand out more easily in a smaller cohort.

If your main question is which econ program is stronger in the abstract, I’d give that to UC Davis. If your real priority is being taught and mentored in a smaller, more personal setting, Brandeis has a compelling case.