University of Richmond or Bucknell for economics: which is better for an undergrad economics major?

The biggest practical tradeoff is location and access: Richmond gives you a stronger built-in connection to a real metro area with nearby finance, policy, nonprofit, and state-government opportunities, while Bucknell offers a more traditional residential liberal arts experience in a much more isolated setting. For economics specifically, both are well-regarded undergraduate options, but Richmond tends to have a slight edge if you care most about internship access during the school year and a more visibly pre-professional economics environment. Bucknell is still very solid academically, especially for students who want close faculty attention and a classic campus-centered experience.

Richmond’s economics department has a strong reputation within the liberal arts space, and its location in Virginia’s capital helps for internships tied to business, public policy, consulting-style work, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. That kind of access can matter a lot for econ majors because the major often becomes more valuable when paired with research, data work, or internship experience before senior year.

For grad school preparation, either school can work if you build quantitative coursework, research experience, and strong faculty relationships. If the question is purely which school has the better overall reputation for undergraduate economics, I’d give Richmond the nod, though not by a huge margin. If economics is the center of your decision rather than just one factor among many, Richmond is the one I’d place slightly ahead.