Best Economics Programs in North Carolina for 2027

UNC-Chapel Hill offers an economics BA and a more quantitatively demanding BS. Both build on economic theory and data analysis, while the BS adds required mathematics, statistics, and computer science and places greater emphasis on student research. Its core includes Introduction to Data Science and Econometrics followed by Econometrics. If you're weighing the two degrees, compare the supporting courses as carefully as the economics electives, since much of the extra quantitative work sits outside the department.

Degree Sizes

BA totals 30 to 31 hours; BS totals 51 hours

BS Math And Computing

Calculus through MATH 233 or 235, plus two courses from programming, linear algebra, discrete math, optimization or probability

Upper-Level Economics

Four courses at 400 level or above for the BA, five for the BS with at least two at 500 or above

STEM Status

The BS is classified as a STEM program

Program Sources: Economics Major, B.S. | UNC CatalogEconomics Major, B.A. | UNC Catalog

Duke offers economics as an AB or a BS, and the two are deliberately different. The AB asks for Econ 101, 104, 201, 204, 210 and five electives with a lighter math prerequisite, while the BS keeps the heavier mathematics and an extra intermediate micro course. Both now carry a STEM designation, and the BS can be taken with a Financial Economics concentration made of finance-focused electives. Students with at least a 3.3 GPA can write an honors thesis through two semesters of Econ 495 and 496 for Graduation with Distinction. A 4+1 program lets undergraduates add a Master of Arts in Economics with a fifth year at Duke.

AB Versus BS

AB with lighter math and fewer required courses; BS with heavier mathematics

Honors Thesis

Two-semester honors seminar and a thesis approved by the Honors Committee

Finance Concentration

Financial Economics sub-plan within the BS

Program Sources: Differences between the A.B. and B.S. Degrees | Economics DepartmentGraduation with Distinction in Economics | Economics Department

Wake Forest recently replaced its mathematical economics major with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, which asks for calculus, multivariable calculus and linear algebra plus two quantitative methods courses chosen from math, statistics and computer science. Those outside courses make it simple to finish a minor or second major in another department. The Bachelor of Arts is a 30-hour major with lighter math, in which students need a C or better in the introductory course before declaring. Honors in Economics rewards a 3.3 economics GPA and the research course ECN 399, and exceptional projects can earn High Honors.

BS Quantitative Load

Calculus, linear algebra and two methods courses from math, statistics or computer science

BA Structure

30 economics hours with at least three 300-level electives

Honors Project

Independent research course ECN 399 with High Honors possible

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science | Wake Forest Economics Department | Wake Forest UniversityHonors in Economics | Wake Forest Economics Department | Wake Forest University

Elon's Economics AB sits in the Love School of Business and totals 44 semester hours, with an applied calculus course, a statistics course, principles, both intermediate theory courses and Applied Econometrics at its center. Twelve elective hours must include at least four in applied macroeconomics and four in applied microeconomics, and up to eight can come from research, internships, study abroad or independent study. An eight-hour capstone experience can be Undergraduate Research or an Honors Thesis. An International Economics track and a Business Economics and Consulting BSBA give you other ways to mix economics with a global or business focus.

Elective Balance

At least four hours in applied macro and four in applied micro

Capstone

Undergraduate Research or an Honors Thesis

Related Options

International Economics track and Business Economics and Consulting BSBA

Program Sources: Elon University - Economics A.B.Elon University - Economics A.B.

UNC Charlotte's Economics MS is 30 credit hours taught in the evening at the Dubois Center in uptown Charlotte, so working professionals can attend and full-time students can finish in 18 months. The core covers advanced macro and micro theory, graduate econometrics and advanced business and economic forecasting, followed by six credits of either a research project or a master's thesis. Five concentrations let you aim the degree: quantitative methods, quantitative financial economics, urban economics and real estate, financial management, or applied economic analysis. Dual-degree pathways with the University of Regensburg and the MS in Financial Engineering and Fintech are also offered.

Concentrations

Quantitative methods, quantitative financial economics, urban economics and real estate, financial management, or applied economic analysis

Credit Structure

30 credits: 12 core theory and methods, 6 for a research project or thesis

Format

In-person evening classes at the Dubois Center, 18 months full time

Dual Degrees

University of Regensburg or the MS in Financial Engineering and Fintech

Program Sources: M.S. in Economics | UNC Charlotte AcademicsM.S. in Economics | UNC Charlotte Academics

East Carolina designed its Master of Science in Quantitative Economics and Econometrics as a terminal degree for people who want marketable skills, not as a stepping stone to a doctorate, though it works for either goal. A common core in neoclassical price and welfare theory leads to field courses in coastal and environmental economics, forecasting, financial economics, health care, and poverty and regional development. Each student designs a research project, gathers the data and tests the model to finish. The program is built to be completed in two semesters and two summers, welcomes part-time students and spring starters, and admits majors from other fields with statistics and differential calculus.

Research Project

Design your own analytical project, collect data and report test results

Field Emphasis

Coastal and environmental economics, forecasting, financial economics, health, regional development

Admission Prerequisites

At least one statistics course and one differential calculus course

Program Sources: Graduate Program | Department of Economics | ECU

Duke's economics doctorate starts before the first semester with a three-week math camp in late July. Core sequences in micro, macro and econometrics are paired with a First-Year Research Workshop, and later courses are divided into half-semester modules so you can study by method instead of by field. Each student certifies one major and one minor field, completes a field paper by the first semester of year three and presents a job market paper every year after the third. Credit-hour counts no longer define the degree, and students can take as many undergraduate courses as they need to fill gaps without affecting the PhD GPA.

Math Camp

Three weeks in the summer before the first year

Fields

One major field with a field exam and paper, plus one minor field

Course Format

Half-semester modules after the first year

Program Sources: Program Requirements | Economics Department

North Carolina State's economics PhD is a joint effort of two departments and expects about five years: two years of coursework (36 hours) and three of dissertation research (36 hours). Fields include agricultural, development and labor, environmental and resource, international economics, econometrics, and microeconomic theory with industrial organization. Students sit two written comprehensive exams after the theory core, and there are no field exams. A cooperative agreement lets you take field courses at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. You need not have majored in economics, but admission requires intermediate micro and macro, three semesters of calculus, linear algebra and a 300-level statistics course.

Structure

36 coursework hours, 36 dissertation hours, about five years

Cross-Campus Access

Field courses at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill through a cooperative agreement

Admission Prerequisites

Three semesters of calculus, linear algebra, intermediate micro and macro, statistics

Program Sources: Doctoral | Economics Graduate Program

The Chapel Hill economics PhD counts its progress in courses: 16 doctoral-level classes, at least 13 of them in economics, plus two semesters of a field-specific Dissertation Workshop and a Dissertation Completion Seminar for students on the job market. The opening is a daily math camp in the first three weeks of August, followed by eight fundamentals courses and June qualifying exams in econometrics, macroeconomics and microeconomics, scored pass, low pass or fail. At least three field courses are needed, and students can invent a new specialization with a faculty supervisor, subject to approval from the director of graduate studies. A field paper completes the written requirements.

Course Requirement

16 doctoral courses, at least 13 in economics

Qualifying Exams

Econometrics, macro and micro each June, with one retake round in August

Custom Fields

Students can propose a new field specialization with three approved courses

Program Sources: Requirements - Economics Department

UNC Greensboro delivers its economics doctorate as a PhD in Business Administration with an Economics concentration, offered exclusively online with only three campus visits: one before the first semester, one for qualifying exams and one flexible visit for a proposal or dissertation defense. The 45 to 66 credit hours typically split into 6 to 9 hours of core, 18 of economics courses, up to 9 of electives, 12 of supervised independent research and 12 to 18 of dissertation work. It is aimed at business school faculty without a PhD and working professionals, with a research emphasis on empirical analysis and economic modeling.

Format

Fully online with three required campus visits

Credit Breakdown

Core, 18 economics hours, electives, 12 research hours and dissertation

Research Areas

Education, environment, health, labor, public economics, banking and technology

Program Sources: PhD in Business Administration - Economics | UNC Greensboro