Master of Science in Applied Economics

Alumni News

Using An M.S. in Applied Economics to Successfully Shift Focus

Many May graduates from the UMD M.S. in Applied Economics program have found jobs they are excited about, and Saketan is the first to be profiled! Check out our newest alumni profile highlight:

“Having already worked at National Economic Research Associates (NERA) for a few years after earning his Bachelor’s in Economics and Spanish at Grinnell College, Saketan wanted to shift his focus within the economics field: so he started the Master of Science in Applied Economics program in the fall of 2025. By the time he started…”

Read the rest of Saketan’s profile and peruse other alumni stories

Winter Networking for Students and Alumni

This year, our employer and alumni panel and networking event included just-graduated alumni all the way to alumni with more than a decade of work experience. Annually, the program holds this panel and reception, which is partly informational for the students, partly networking, and partly a good excuse to get together and break bread. This year’s panel featured alums Aniruddh Duttaa, Anom Dule, Jai Joshi, Luiz Guilherme Vieira, and Mihir Madhekar.

The program also regularly has Associate Director of International Student & Scholar Services Jody Heckman-Bose who walks international students through the ever-changing landscape of working on a student visa, and the opportunities that the STEM-designated MS in Applied Economics offers: namely, three years of work in the United States on a UMD-sponsored visa.

Read more here about alumni and specific program information for international students

From Master’s Student to Senior Economic Researcher

Thomas started the DC program where he finished in 15 months, even while working full time. He wrote an economics blog while doing his coursework and taking advantage of the networking opportunities like the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) conference. Here’s a little bit more of this alumni profile:

“Thomas enrolled in our MS program in the spring of 2023, after having also earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from our department in 2021. Thomas was working as a Senior Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors when he began our MS program.”

Read his full profile and more alumni profiles

May ’25 Grad Lands Myriad Research Opportunities

Eesha started the MS in Applied Economics at UMD with research experience already under her belt, and since then she has only added to her expertise. The newest alumni profile starts this way:

“Eesha enrolled in the fall of 2023 after having earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Madras in 2022. She had been doing US stock market research…”

Read her full profile and more alumni profiles

May 2025 Grad Returns Home to Germany with a Masters & a New Economics Job

Marie started her undergraduate studies in economics and business administration and knew she wanted to continue on the economics path. The newest alumni profile begins this way:

“Marie began our program in the spring of 2024, after having earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from Goethe University in Frankfurt. Marie had interned with the Korean Exchange Bank…”

Read her full profile and more alumni profiles

Building Policy Skills Through Applied Economics: New Alumni Profile

During her time in the program, graduate Aliza Khan leveraged her developing economics skillsets at her FCC research assistant job — and was promoted into an economist position. Newest alumni profile here:

“Aliza graduated CUNY Brooklyn College with a degree in Political Science & Economics. After working for organizations such as the UN Department of Economic & Social Affairs and The Center for Economic & Policy Research…”

Read her full profile and more alumni profiles

’25 MS in Applied Economics Grad Starts New Data Role

Within weeks of May 2025 graduation from UMD’s M.S. in Applied Economics program, Jai Joshi began his new data analyst job at The Surety & Fidelity Association of America in the Statistics department. Great work, Jai! Catch up on our newest alumni profile:

“Jai enrolled in the Applied Economics master’s program in Fall 2023 after earning a bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Mathematics from Ahmedabad University in India….”

Read her full profile and more alumni profiles

New Grad Lands Economic Consulting Job: May 2025 Alumni Profile

Just after graduating from UMD’s top-ranked M.S. in Applied Economics, May 2025 grad Sophia Vaccaro started a new job at Monument Economics Group as a Research Analyst. Congrats Sophia! Our newest alumni profile starts this way:

“Sophia finished the M.S. in Applied Economics in May of 2025, and immediately started working with Monument Economics Group as a Research Analyst. In her two years in the M.S. program, she interned at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Corn Refiners Association as a Trade Policy Intern…”

Read her full profile and more alumni profiles