Compare 17 Political Economy. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $50,350.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $48K earnings gap across 17 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Duke University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $84,950, well above the $50,350 average across North Carolina programs. Wake Forest follows at $70,723, while Elon University reaches $67,059—demonstrating that program quality varies independently of overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Duke graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 2.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with the entire debt clearable in about 2 months of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $84,950 | 131 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Good |
| #2 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $70,723 | 146 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #3 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $67,059 | 78 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Challenging |
| #4 | $58,890 | 339 | $14,000 | Excellent | $25,072 | Manageable | |
| #5 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $53,257 | 81 | $22,750 | Good | $19,710 | Challenging |
| #6 | $51,838 | 145 | $20,121 | Good | $23,000 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $48,480 | 76 | $19,500 | Good | $22,737 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $47,682 | 201 | $21,500 | Good | $19,809 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $45,706 | 17 | $25,000 | Manageable | $12,030 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Guilford CollegePrivate | $43,454 | 15 | $26,000 | Manageable | $37,100 | High |
| #11 | $42,318 | 81 | $22,858 | Manageable | $14,638 | High | |
| #12 | $42,310 | 30 | $27,000 | Challenging | $20,004 | High | |
| #13 | $42,254 | 38 | $21,868 | Manageable | $18,241 | High | |
| #14 | $41,941 | 38 | $28,250 | Challenging | $19,245 | High | |
| #15 | $39,883 | 120 | $20,231 | Manageable | $21,919 | High | |
| #16 | $37,969 | 21 | $25,000 | Challenging | $10,984 | High | |
| #17 | $37,231 | 28 | $20,500 | Challenging | $20,305 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
