Best colleges for Economics in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
Duke University, Elon University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are the top bachelor's Economics programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. Duke University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,649, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and Wake Forest University award the most Economics degrees in North Carolina: 398, 263 and 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 North Carolina colleges offer Economics and award 1,079 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $98,649 | 263 | 97% | $16,260 | $13,437 |
| 2 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,298 | 29 | 84% | $33,688 | $19,500 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $65,344 | 398 | 91% | — | $15,843 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,416 | 129 | 89% | $20,914 | $20,927 |
| 5 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,425 | 52 | 63% | — | $25,375 |
| 6 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,446 | 21 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,301 | 13 | 54% | — | $18,791 |
| 8 | Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,653 | 9 | 47% | — | — |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davidson College Davidson Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $70,785 | 51 | 91% | $16,628 | $22,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in North Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 398 | $65,344 |
| 2 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 263 | $98,649 |
| 3 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 129 | $56,416 |
| 4 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 52 | $46,425 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 6 | Elon University Elon Private not-for-profit | 29 | $69,298 |
| 7 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 21 | $45,446 |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 13 | $28,301 |
ShowHide the other 11 North Carolina colleges offering Economics
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 51 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Wilmington | Public | 12 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 9 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Catawba College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Western Carolina University | Cullowhee | Public | 3 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).
Top skills
What Economists earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Economics programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Economics degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (398 graduates a year), Duke University (263 graduates a year) and Wake Forest University (129 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 North Carolina colleges offer Economics.
What is the best college for Economics in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, Duke University leads among bachelor's Economics programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,649, College Scorecard. Elon University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 398 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Economics program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Duke University tops the list at $98,649. Compare it against graduates a year, 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 $136,220 (median $136,150), across about 290 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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