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See the Top 10 Global Universities for Economics and Business

By U.S. News & World Report

Top-Notch Schools for Economics, Business

Students interested in pursuing an economics or business degree from a global university may notice a trend among the top-ranked schools in this field: Nine of the top 10 institutions worldwide strong in these subjects are in the U.S.

Browse these slides to learn a little more about the top 10 Best Global Universities for Economics and Business, ranked by U.S. News based on academic research performance in the subject area.

10. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.

Best Global Universities overall rank: 17 (tie)

Fun fact: According to the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor website, 98 percent of the institution’s 2016 full-time MBA grads received a job offer within three months of graduation. Similarly, 96 percent of undergraduate business administration students who graduated in 2016 got a job offer within three months of graduating.

9. London School of Economics and Political Science

Location: London

Best Global Universities overall rank: 261 (tie)

Fun fact: The London School of Economics and Political Science, also known as LSE, offers degree programs that focus on the intersection between economics and other disciplines. These include an undergraduate program in economic history as well as master’s programs in economics and philosophy, and environmental economics and climate change.

8. New York University

Location: New York

Best Global Universities overall rank: 27 (tie)

Fun fact: New York University has a number of research centers focused on business and economics issues affiliated with its Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Among them are the Center for Real Estate Finance Research, the Salomon Center for the Study of Financial Institutions and the Vincent C. Ross Institute of Accounting Research.

7. Columbia University

Location: New York

Best Global Universities overall rank: 9

Fun fact: Columbia University‘s predecessor, King’s College, was the alma mater of the first U.S. treasury secretary: Alexander Hamilton.

6. University of Chicago

Location: Chicago

Best Global Universities overall rank: 13

Fun fact: A total of 28 recipients of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences have been affiliated with the University of Chicago throughout its history, according to the school’s website.

5. University of California–Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California, U.S.

Best Global Universities overall rank: 4

Fun fact: Economics is the third most popular undergraduate major among non-transfer students at the University of California–Berkeley, according to data on the school’s website, while the fourth most popular major is business administration.

4. Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California, U.S.

Best Global Universities overall rank: 3

Fun fact: Economics was one of the subjects taught at Stanford University when the school first opened its doors in 1891, according to the university’s website.

3. University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia

Best Global Universities overall rank: 17 (tie)

Fun fact: The University of Pennsylvania‘s business school was founded in 1881, which the university says makes the Wharton School of Business the oldest collegiate business school in the world.

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

Best Global Universities overall rank: 2

Fun fact: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology‘s business school — the Sloan School of Management — has 43 faculty members that hail from countries other than the U.S., according to the university’s website.

1. Harvard University

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.

Best Global Universities overall rank: 1

Fun fact: The median base salary for 2016 graduates of Harvard University‘s MBA program was $135,000, according to data from the Harvard Business School website. The median signing bonus for these grads was $25,000.

Learn More About Studying Overseas

Check off these to-dos if you want to earn a bachelor’s degree abroad, and get tips on how to decide between a top U.S. or global MBA program.

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See the Top 10 Global Universities for Economics and Business originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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