NYU vs Pomona for economics: which is better for an undergrad econ major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is scale and access versus intimacy and flexibility. NYU gives you a large economics ecosystem in New York City, with easy proximity to finance, policy, consulting, and research opportunities during the school year. Pomona gives you much smaller classes, closer faculty contact, and the kind of broad liberal arts training that can be excellent preparation for both PhD study and selective first jobs.

For pure undergraduate teaching, Pomona has a real edge. Economics majors there usually get more discussion-based classes, easier access to professors, and stronger chances to build relationships for recommendation letters, research, and thesis work. Through the Claremont Colleges, you also get a wider course catalog than a single small college would normally offer, so the liberal arts setting is not as limiting as it may first seem.

For internships during the semester and early professional exposure, NYU is hard to beat. Being in New York matters if you want to test out finance, banking, consulting, think tanks, or economic research while school is in session. NYU’s size also means a very broad alumni network and more specialized economics-adjacent options, especially if your interests lean applied, business-facing, or quantitative in a city-driven way.

For grad school preparation, both can work very well, but in different ways. Pomona is especially appealing if you want mentoring, a senior thesis or close research work, and a transcript shaped by small, rigorous classes across economics, math, and writing. NYU can also place students well, especially those who are proactive, but you may need to navigate a bigger, more self-directed environment to get the same level of individual attention.

I’d lean NYU if you already know you want heavy exposure to internships during college, especially in finance or city-based professional settings.