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Economics at Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,653/yr (-52% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (293,500 openings/yr)
ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #349 of 351 Economics programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Economics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $361K $374K $385K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.4x 13.9x 14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.4x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 66% 60% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$26,940
Out-of-state: $69,564 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,572
-99% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,653 place Winston-Salem State University below the $53,966 national median for Economics — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 13.9x 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 -7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #349 out of 351 programs, Winston-Salem State University's financial outcomes for Economics trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Winston-Salem State University

A 69% admission rate makes Winston-Salem State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 4,244 in Winston-Salem, NC. Pell Grant recipients make up 61% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Winston-Salem State University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
Economists $115,440/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 351 schools offering Economics →

Economics at Other Schools

Harvard University ($103,993) Princeton University ($103,041) Duke University ($98,649) Stanford University ($98,104) Dartmouth College ($94,675) University of Chicago ($92,075) Amherst College ($90,568) Claremont McKenna College ($89,505)

Other Majors at Winston-Salem State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,639) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($60,442) Computer Science ($50,927) Accounting and Related Services ($45,495) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($43,077) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($41,819) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($35,414) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($32,541)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Economics trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Winston-Salem State University's Economics program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Economics. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Why are Economics earnings lower at Winston-Salem State University?
Lower starting pay at Winston-Salem State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →