Program Analysis
At $98,649 per year, Economics graduates from Duke University significantly outpace the $53,966 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Economics's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 28% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $13,187 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #26 of 351 programs, Duke University's Economics program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.
Five-year earnings of $171,986 show a 74% jump from the $98,649 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.