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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in North Carolina (With Aid)

18 Ranked Colleges
1,161 Degrees Awarded
$19,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 48,831 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 18th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across North Carolina, there were 1,351 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,713 and $20,190 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,161 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,192 and $24,368 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in North Carolina (With Aid)

#1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 409 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,352 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at UNC Chapel Hill

#2

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 219 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Duke University is $27,020 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Economics at Duke

#3

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Appalachian State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Boone, North Carolina, this large public school awarded 41 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Appalachian State also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $13,920 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid per year to attend Appalachian State University.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Appalachian State University Economics Report

#4

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. UNC Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Greensboro, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $12,748 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid per year to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Read more about Economics at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#5

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina A & T State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

NC A&T not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $10,274 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid per year to attend NC A&T.

Read more about Economics at North Carolina A & T State University

#6

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Asheville landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Asheville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid list, UNCA has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Asheville is $12,061 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid.

Read more about Economics at University of North Carolina at Asheville

#7

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. ECU is a large school located in Greenville, North Carolina that handed out 98 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

ECU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $15,844 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid per year to attend East Carolina University.

Read full report on Economics at East Carolina University

#8

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 139 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wake Forest University, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wake Forest University is $29,990 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wake Forest University Economics Report

#9

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Charlotte ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a large school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 29 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Charlotte did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $16,529 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid per year to attend UNC Charlotte.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Economics at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

#10

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Winston - Salem State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. WSSU is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid list, WSSU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. It costs about $12,286 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid per year to attend Winston - Salem State University.

Read more about Economics at Winston - Salem State University

#11

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina
#9 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of North Carolina at Wilmington is located in Wilmington, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNCW, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNCW is $19,055 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at UNCW

#12

Salem College

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#12 in overall quality

Salem College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Salem College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 8 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Salem did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Salem College is $18,010 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

Read full report on Economics at Salem College

#13

Catawba College

Salisbury, North Carolina
#16 in overall quality

Catawba College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Salisbury, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Catawba not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. The estimated yearly cost for Catawba is $18,185 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid.

Read full report on Economics at Catawba

#14

Meredith College

Raleigh, North Carolina
#8 in overall quality

Meredith College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Meredith College is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Meredith also took the #8 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Meredith is $23,683 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Meredith College Economics Report

#15

Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte, North Carolina
#18 in overall quality

Johnson C Smith University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. JCSU is a small school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 1 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

JCSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. It costs about $19,220 for North Carolina Bachelor’s Degree Economics students with aid per year to attend Johnson C Smith University.

Read full report on Economics at JCSU

#16

Campbell University

Buies Creek, North Carolina
#11 in overall quality

Campbell University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Campbell is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Campbell also took the #11 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Campbell is $24,544 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

Read more about Economics at Campbell University

#17

Guilford College

Greensboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #17, Guilford College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid list. Guilford is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Guilford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” list. The yearly cost to attend Guilford is $22,996 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

Read full report on Economics at Guilford

#18

Elon University

Elon, North Carolina
#4 in overall quality

Elon University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in North Carolina For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elon is located in Elon, North Carolina and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Elon also took the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in North Carolina” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elon University is $37,230 for north carolina bachelor’s degree economics students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Elon

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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