Choosing Programs

April 29, 2026 · 3 min read
phd-application-guide

One of the hardest parts of my application cycle was deciding how to compare Economics PhD, Applied Economics PhD, Agricultural Economics PhD, and Environmental/Resource Economics programs. These categories overlap, but they can differ in field emphasis, advising networks, placement patterns, coursework, and the kinds of empirical questions that are most central to the department.

This section is not a ranking of individual programs. I found it more useful to ask whether a program could support the kind of research I wanted to do.

What I Compared

Research fit was the first filter. I looked for programs where environmental economics, energy economics, applied microeconomics, policy evaluation, causal inference, agriculture, development, resources, or related empirical work were active parts of the department.

Faculty fit mattered, but I would avoid making the decision depend on a single person. A stronger fit usually means there are multiple possible advisers, active seminars or reading groups, and graduate students working in related areas.

Placement was another important signal. Rather than only looking at headline placements, I tried to ask whether graduates with similar fields and methods interests had outcomes I would be happy with.

Funding clarity also mattered. I do not publish detailed funding numbers, but I do think applicants should compare whether support is clearly explained, how long support is expected to last, what work obligations are attached, and how living cost affects the package.

Department culture and location are easy to underweight before admission. During visits and conversations, I paid attention to whether students seemed supported, whether advising expectations were clear, and whether the city would be a realistic place to live for several years.

Rankings I Used as Reference Points

I did look at external rankings when building the initial school list, especially to avoid missing programs that I should at least investigate. Two references I used were:

I treated these rankings as starting points rather than final answers. Rankings can be useful for discovering programs, understanding broad reputation signals, and checking whether my list was missing obvious options. They are much less useful for answering the questions that mattered most for my application: whether the department had active research in my fields, whether there were realistic advising options, whether placements matched my goals, and whether the program environment seemed supportive.

Why Applied and Agricultural Economics Programs Can Be a Strong Fit

Agricultural and applied economics programs can be especially strong fits for students interested in environment, energy, agriculture, development, natural resources, and policy-oriented empirical work. These programs often sit close to real-world policy questions while still emphasizing rigorous economics training and quantitative methods.

For applicants moving between economics and agricultural/applied economics, the key is to look beyond the department label. A program may be a strong fit if it has faculty and students working on the substantive questions you care about, provides solid training in theory and econometrics, and places graduates into roles that match your goals.

A Practical Program-Choice Checklist

  • Does the program have multiple people or groups connected to my research interests?
  • Are recent graduate placements consistent with my likely career goals?
  • Is funding explained clearly enough for me to plan responsibly?
  • Do current students describe advising and department culture in a way that fits how I work?
  • Are the coursework and field requirements compatible with my preparation and interests?
  • Is the location realistic given living cost, personal constraints, and quality of life?

The final list should be balanced. I would include programs across different selectivity levels, but I would also be careful not to apply to programs where the research fit is weak simply because they look attractive in a broad ranking.

Chenzhe Zhang
Authors
Chenzhe Zhang
PhD Student in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
I am a PhD student in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. My research interests lie in applied microeconomics, environmental and energy economics, policy evaluation, causal inference, and machine learning. I am particularly interested in original data construction and empirical work at the intersection of environmental risk, human behavior, and economic outcomes.