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Social Sciences · Economics Rank #107 of 351

Economicsat East Carolina University

Graduates earn $46,425/yr in their first year — about 14.0% below the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $607K; scenarios range from $544K to $620K depending on AI disruption.

Greenville, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
71 STRONG
72
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,425
1-year post-graduation
ROI
20.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$607K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at East Carolina University

First-year earnings of $46,425 track close to the $53,966 national median for Economics programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 20.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,788 debt-to-$46,425 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #107 out of 351 programs, East Carolina University's Economics offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $46,425 to $64,033 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$544K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$607K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple20.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$620K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple21.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to East Carolina University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Economics graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
3
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
4
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
5
Statisticians
+8.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$103,300/yr
High
6
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Economics

How East Carolina University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$104K
1-yr earn
5.8x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
Same state (NC)
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
5.5x
ROI
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$98K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$95K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
Also at East Carolina University

Other top programs at East Carolina University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at East Carolina 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Economics at East Carolina University

How does East Carolina University's Economics program score?

A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. East Carolina University's Economics graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Economics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Economics careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.