Economicsat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduates earn $65,344/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $830K; scenarios range from $696K to $868K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC Chapel Hill's Economics program consistently delivers strong outcomes, reflecting both the university's elite public reputation and the discipline's versatile analytical toolkit. Graduates are highly sought after in the robust Research Triangle Park ecosystem, where opportunities abound in technology, finance, and consulting firms seeking sharp minds for data analysis, strategic planning, and market research. This regional demand, combined with UNC's strong academic rigor and robust alumni network, often propels alumni into management positions or specialized economist and data scientist roles quickly.
While the data highlights a "Very High" AI risk, for an economics graduate, this typically means a transformation of roles rather than outright obsolescence. Your core analytical and critical thinking skills become even more valuable for interpreting complex models and informing strategic decisions that AI generates. To thrive, prioritize internships that build practical experience in quantitative analysis and consider complementing your studies with programming or statistical methods.
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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill'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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
What does a 82/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Economics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
At 82/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Economics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill one of the best schools for Economics?
Among 351 Economics programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's #2 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.