Economicsat Duke University
Graduates earn $98,649/yr in their first year — about 83.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,389K; scenarios range from $1,078K to $1,491K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Duke University
Duke's highly selective Economics program prepares you for an exceptional career trajectory, driven by its rigorous curriculum, renowned faculty, and unparalleled alumni network. Your analytical and critical thinking skills, honed through this demanding program, are highly valued in competitive fields like investment banking, management consulting, and technology firms across the nation, not just within the thriving Research Triangle Park. While the broader field of economics carries a high AI risk rating, your Duke education equips you for strategic, leadership-oriented roles that demand complex problem-solving and human judgment, rather than routine tasks susceptible to automation. You're positioned to interpret data, drive policy, or lead business strategy in dynamic environments. To truly capitalize, proactively leverage the extensive alumni connections and career services from day one, and consider pairing your economics foundation with advanced data analytics or programming skills.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Duke University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Economics
How Duke University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Duke University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Duke University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Economics offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Economics at Duke University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Economics at Duke University?
This program scores 76/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Economics nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Economics careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $1,078,462 in decade earnings vs $1,491,456 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.