Best Economics Schools in North Carolina

The data on economists' wages in North Carolina in May 2023 suggests that the profession is financially rewarding. Economists in North Carolina earn a median hourly wage of around $46 and an annual mean wage of approximately $110,000, indicating that they are well-compensated for their expertise and contributions to the field.

Cost of Studying Economics in North Carolina

The tuition fees for undergraduate economics courses in North Carolina vary between $6,000 and $68,000 per year for in-state students and between $21,000 and $68,000 per year for out-of-state students. For postgraduate studies, the annual tuition fee ranges from $6,000 to $34,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students.

10 Best Economics Schools in North Carolina

Institution	Location	In-state Tuition Fees		Out-of-state Tuition Fees
Duke University	Durham	UG-$32,000 annually	G-$31,000 per semester	UG-$32,000 annually	G-$31,000 per semester
University of North Carolina	Chapel Hill	UG-$600 per credit hour	G-$900 per credit hour	UG-$1,800 per credit hour	G-$1,900 per credit hour
North Carolina State University	Raleigh	UG-$9,000 annually	G-$13,000 annually	UG-$33,000 annually	G-$34,000 annually
Wake Forest University	Winston-Salem	UG-$68,000 annually	G-NA	UG-$68,000 annually	G-NA
University of North Carolina	Charlotte	UG-$200 per credit hour	G-$700 per credit hour	UG-$700 per credit hour	G-$1,200 per credit hour
University of North Carolina	Greensboro	UG-$200 per credit hour	G-$300 per credit hour	UG-$900 per credit hour	G-$1,100 per credit hour
Appalachian State University	Boone	UG-$8,100 annually	G-5,800 annually	UG-$25,000 annually	G-$17,000 annually
North Carolina A&T State University	Greensboro	UG-$6,800 annually	G-NA	UG-$21,000 annually	G-NA
Elon University	Elon	UG-$47,000 annually	G-NA	UG-$47,000 annually	G-NA
Winston-Salem University	Winston-Salem	UG-$200 per credit hour	G-NA	UG-$600 per credit hour	G-NA

Duke University

Duke University, a private research institution, awarded approximately $59,000 in need-based grants for the academic year 2022-2023. The university boasts an acceptance rate of 6%, with SAT scores ranging from 1490 to 1570 and ACT scores ranging from 34 to 35. Duke University maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1. Within the university, the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of programs, including Bachelor of Science in Economics, Bachelor of Science in Economics with a Finance Concentration, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Master of Arts in Economics, Master of Arts in Analytical Political Economy, Master of Science in Economics & Computation, Master of Science in Quantitative Financial Economics, and a PhD in Economics.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a renowned public research institution, boasts the distinction of having Two Nobel Laureates among its faculty. The average high school GPA of incoming Covenant Scholars at this esteemed university stands at an impressive 4.0. The Department of Economics at the University provides undergraduate and graduate programs in Economics. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Science (MS), or a Doctorate (PhD) in Economics. To obtain a BA degree with a focus on economics, students are required to achieve a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000, complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours, fulfill at least half of their major core requirements, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core courses.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State University, a public land-grant institution, comprises 12 colleges and 68 departments. The university maintains a student-faculty ratio of 15:1, ensuring personalized attention, while the average class size is 35 students. Notably, 25 faculty members are esteemed members of the National Academies. The university's first-year student acceptance rate of 39.5% upholds high academic standards. Moreover, North Carolina State University provides a range of economics programs, including the STEM Designated Master of Economics, Master of Science in Economics, PhD in Economics, and an Accelerated BA/MA program.

Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University, a private research institution, boasts a student-to-faculty ratio 10:1 and an average undergraduate class size of 20 students. The university has an acceptance rate of 22% for the upcoming academic year. Notably, the university offers Signature scholarships that cover tuition, room, and board, an additional $3,400 for personal expenses, and $5,000 for research purposes for eligible scholars. Among the programs offered is a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, which mandates a minimum grade of C in ECN 150. Furthermore, students must earn a minimum grade of C- in ECN 205 or 210, 207 or 211, and 209 while maintaining an overall 2.0 average in economics courses. A minimum grade of C- is also required in MTH 111 and STA 111 for successful program completion.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a renowned public research institution with an acceptance rate of 80%. The university's admission profile showcases an average SAT Range of 1070-1290, an average ACT Range of 20-26, and an average High School GPA of 3.6. Students at this university can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a concentration in either Business or liberal arts. Additionally, the university offers a Master of Science in Economics with concentrations in Economics or Finance. Furthermore, an Early Entry MS in Economics program is available for interested students. To be eligible for the Bachelor of Science program, students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and a 2.5 GPA in Progression Courses.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a public research university, maintains a student-to-faculty ratio 17:1. The university boasts an acceptance rate of 92%. The academic profile of incoming freshmen includes a SAT Range of 1110-1280, an ACT Range of 22-27, and a High School GPA of 3.6. The Bryan School of Business and Economics at the university provides programs such as BS, BA, MA, and PhD in Economics. Additionally, an Accelerated Bachelor to Master of Science in Applied Economics program is available to current Bryan School undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.5.

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University, a public institution, boasts a student-to-faculty ratio 16:1 and an average class size of 25 students. The undergraduate academic profile at the university showcases a weighted GPA range of 3.82 - 4.3, SAT scores between 1100 - 1270, and ACT scores between 22 - 28. The university offers a range of programs including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, BA degrees in General Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, International Economics, and Regional Economic Development. Additionally, they provide advanced degrees such as a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics and a Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics.

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina A&T State University is a historically black institution dedicated to research and education, known for its academic excellence and diverse student body. Incoming freshmen have impressive academic profiles, with an average GPA of 3.74, an ACT score of 19.81, and a SAT score of 1074. The university offers the prestigious National Alumni Scholarship to students with a minimum GPA of 3.75, covering full tuition, fees, room, and board. The Willie A Deese College of Business and Economics offers specialized programs for students interested in business and economics. North Carolina A&T State University provides a high-quality education with strong academic programs and scholarship opportunities.

Elon University

Located in North Carolina, Elon University is a private university. It highlights a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and an average class size of 20 students. The first-year class profile for the 2023-2024 academic year showcases an impressive average GPA of 4.09, an average SAT score of 1,277, and an average ACT score of 28. To recognize academic excellence, the university provides merit-based scholarships to students, with the Fellow Program offering awards ranging from $7,500 to $13,500 annually. Additionally, the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business offers both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics Consulting.

Winston-Salem University

Winston-Salem University is a public university with a rich history of serving the black community. It offers a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The freshmen's academic profile highlights that the university has an acceptance rate of 81%, with an SAT Range of 880-1040 and an ACT Range of 15-19. The approximate starting salary for alumni of the university is around $38,000. The university provides Bachelor of Science degrees in General, Business, International, and Political Economics.