Is Brown or Amherst better for studying economics?

For economics, Brown has the edge for students seeking the broadest range of undergraduate courses, research connections, and career-oriented opportunities. Brown’s Open Curriculum also makes it easier to pair economics with mathematics, computer science, public policy, international and public affairs, or another field without extensive general-education requirements.

Brown’s location in Providence and its university-scale ecosystem add useful options beyond the department. Students can pursue research with faculty, engage with policy and global-affairs programming, and use a larger alumni and recruiting network for internships and post-graduation roles. For graduate-school preparation, the ability to take substantial math, statistics, and data-focused work alongside economics is particularly valuable.

Amherst offers an excellent economics education, but it is structured around the strengths of a small liberal-arts college: close faculty access, discussion-based classes, and an intimate academic community. Its participation in the Five College Consortium expands course access beyond Amherst, which can be a meaningful advantage for a student who wants liberal-arts mentorship while still having options at nearby institutions.

The main tradeoff is scale and academic flexibility. Amherst may be more appealing for someone who prioritizes small classes and sustained relationships with professors, while Brown provides a deeper university-level menu of economics-adjacent paths and more built-in opportunities to explore them. For a student focused on maximizing economics specialization and preparation for varied economics, policy, finance, or quantitative careers, Brown is the more compelling choice.