Economics at Elon University

Elon University's Economics program punches above its weight, but keep in mind we're working with a very small graduating class here—under 30 students—which means a few high earners could be skewing these numbers. That said, first-year median earnings of $69,298 rank in the 80th percentile among North Carolina economics programs, trailing only Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill among the state's major programs. The $19,500 median debt sits just below the state average, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28—meaning graduates earn roughly $3.50 for every dollar borrowed.

The comparison to Wake Forest is particularly telling. Elon graduates earn about $13,000 more in their first year despite Elon's significantly lower selectivity and more modest student profile (only 9% receive Pell grants versus Wake Forest's more economically diverse student body). Four-year earnings growth is modest at 6%, but starting from a position $17,000 above the national median provides substantial cushion.

The caveat matters here: with such a small sample, these outcomes may not be replicable year after year. If your child is considering Elon's economics program based on these numbers, dig into placement rates and where recent graduates actually landed jobs. The data suggests strong outcomes, but you're betting on consistency from a program that graduates very few students annually. For families prioritizing economics education in North Carolina without Duke or UNC admission, the risk-reward here looks reasonable—just don't treat these numbers as guarantees.