The Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) has roots that reach back over 75 years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a world-wide reputation for its academic excellence, and a forward-looking vision for excellence in teaching, research, and outreach related to important economic and social challenges. Visit the ACE faculty websites to learn more about each faculty member’s interests, publications, and current projects. Sample highlights include:

• Publications in high impact journals such as Science, PNAS, the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Food Policy and World Development
• Steady funding through competitive research grants from sources like the NSF, USDA, DOD, and EPA
• Editor of the AJAE and Associate Editors of other top journals
• Fellows of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
• Elected leadership positions in professional organizations (Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists)

The thriving undergraduate program has over 700 students. They offer concentrations in subjects like agribusiness, accounting, finance in agribusiness, consumer economics and finance, environmental economics, farm management, financial planning, policy and law, and international trade and development. Their hallmarks are experiential learning outside the classroom; research opportunities in classes and through independent studies; and excellent placements both in employment and in graduate and law schools.

Synergies between the undergraduate and graduate programs give graduate students opportunities for professional development in instruction and undergrad students opportunities to learn about career options from graduate student role models.