Charles Scott Benson

Charles Scott Benson was a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also served as director and chief investigator of the National Center for Research in Vocational Education. A leading expert on the economics of education, educational administration, and policy analysis, he played a major role in advancing school finance reforms. His seminal text, The Economics of Public Education, helped define the field, and his research influenced education policy at state, national, and international levels. Benson previously taught at Bowdoin College and Harvard University and served as staff director for the New York State Education Commission. He consulted for organizations including the World Bank, the California Board of Education, and the President’s Advisory Panel on Financing Elementary and Secondary Education. He was president of the American Educational Finance Association and received its Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Berkeley Citation. Benson earned his BA in economics from Princeton University and an MA and PhD from Columbia University.

updated 2025