North Carolina · Economics

Best Economics institutions in North Carolina, ranked by earnings

The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 45.06
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,065
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$56,416
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,639
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
67%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Economists
$122,470
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Duke University
Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$98,64924897%$16,260$13,437
2Davidson College
Davidson Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$70,7857891%$16,628$22,625
3Elon University
Elon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$69,2982184%$33,688$19,500
4University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree
$65,34436591%$15,843
5Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$56,41612289%$20,914$20,927
6East Carolina University
Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree
$46,4253463%$25,375
7North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,4461957%$27,000
8University of North Carolina Asheville
Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,3011454%$18,791
9Winston - Salem State University
Winston-Salem Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,6531947%

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$115,440
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningWriting

What Economists earn in North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
250
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$122,470
median $111,770
Best-paying metro
$127,810
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$85,760 avg · 30,140 jobs
Data Scientists
$118,020 avg · 10,140 jobs
Social Science Research Assistants
$58,590 avg · 3,470 jobs
Statisticians
$128,280 avg · 1,430 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in North Carolina.

Which Economics program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Duke University tops the list at $98,649. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Economists in North Carolina is $122,470 (median $111,770), across about 250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Economics program?+

The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Economists?+

The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card