Graduate Degrees

The graduate program in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics is highly ranked nationally, with a focus on research skills and experience. The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in academia, NGOs, government agencies, and private companies.

Our program helps set our students up for success by offering weekly seminars, networking opportunities, and funding for conference and publication expenses. The Department of ACE also helps students find funding opportunities, with over 90% of our graduate students having enough funding to cover the cost of tuition.

Our graduate students are grounded in economic theory, state-of-the-art research methods, and creative problem solving. They are distinguishable by their deep training in applied microeconomics and quantitative methods and their ability to apply theory and analytical tools to real-world problems.

Our graduate students have the opportunity to take their careers to the next level and become experts in their field. Learn how you can become a part of our rewarding graduate program!

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We offer two master's degrees: the Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics and the (non-thesis) Master of Agricultural and Applied Economics (MAAE), as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree. All of our programs offer students support and flexibility in tailoring their experience to best fit their goals with personalized mentoring from faculty and fellow students, as well as the opportunity to expand their knowledge by attending courses and seminars outside of ACE.  

Learn more about each of our degree programs below. For more information on applications and admissions, visit our Graduate Admissions page or email ace-grad@illinois.edu. 

Graduate Admissions