Economics at Catawba College

Based on comparable economics programs in North Carolina, Catawba's estimated first-year earnings of $46,425 sit right at the state median—a practical starting point, though notably behind the state's powerhouse programs at Duke ($98,649) and UNC-Chapel Hill ($65,344). The estimated $19,500 in debt is slightly below typical levels for NC economics degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that suggests graduates could reasonably manage their loans. For context, the national median for economics bachelor's degrees is about $51,700, meaning these figures suggest Catawba's outcomes trail the broader national picture by roughly $5,000.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from peer programs—the actual graduate cohort at Catawba was too small for the Department of Education to report publicly. This means the true outcomes could vary considerably from these state-level benchmarks. What we can say is that if Catawba performs similarly to other mid-tier NC economics programs, the financial picture appears manageable but not exceptional.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Catawba offers something—smaller class sizes, specific faculty expertise, campus culture—that justifies potentially similar outcomes to larger public universities at comparable or lower cost. The estimated numbers suggest neither a red flag nor a standout opportunity, making the non-financial factors particularly important in this decision.