Fordham vs University of Richmond for economics: which is better for an undergraduate econ major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is access versus environment: Fordham gives you day-to-day proximity to New York internships and a large urban professional network, while Richmond offers a smaller, more personal undergraduate experience with close faculty access and a very undergraduate-focused campus culture. For economics specifically, both can prepare you well, but they do it in different ways. Fordham benefits from being in NYC and from ties to finance, business, and policy employers, while Richmond tends to stand out for small classes, strong advising, and the kind of faculty interaction that can matter for research and grad school recommendations.

If your priority is internships during the school year, Fordham has a real edge. Being in New York makes it much easier to pursue part-time work or networking in finance, consulting, policy, and related fields while classes are in session. That kind of access can be especially valuable if you want applied economics experience before graduation.

If your priority is the academic experience itself, Richmond is very appealing. It is known for a tight-knit liberal arts setting where undergraduates get substantial attention, and that often translates into stronger mentoring, easier access to research opportunities, and more individualized support when applying to PhD, master’s, or policy programs. For an econ major who wants close discussion-based classes rather than a more city-driven college experience, that matters.

In terms of reputation for undergraduate economics, I would give Richmond a slight academic edge and Fordham a slight career-location edge. Neither choice closes doors to grad school, but Richmond may make it easier to build deep faculty relationships, while Fordham may make it easier to build a resume quickly through internships.

My verdict: if you are choosing specifically on undergraduate economics education, I would lean University of Richmond. If you are choosing on economics plus immediate access to internships and New York career pathways, Fordham becomes very compelling.