Compare 10 Public Finance. programs in North Carolina. Average earnings: $65,728.
With top graduates earning $113,398, Public Finance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $47K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Wake Forest University's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $113,398, well above the $66K average across North Carolina's 10 programs. Following closely, Elon University delivers $87,590 outcomes, while Appalachian State University proves regional publics compete at $69,084—demonstrating that program strength varies independently of school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Wake Forest graduates borrow $21,500 and face just a 3.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making strong outcomes truly affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $113,398 | 108 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #2 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $87,590 | 178 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Manageable |
| #3 | $69,084 | 135 | $20,231 | Excellent | $21,919 | Manageable | |
| #4 | Campbell UniversityPrivate | $67,345 | 47 | $22,500 | Excellent | $40,055 | Challenging |
| #5 | $65,028 | 325 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,809 | Manageable | |
| #6 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $64,191 | 169 | $22,750 | Excellent | $19,710 | Manageable |
| #7 | $56,093 | 82 | $22,858 | Good | $14,638 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $51,753 | 63 | $21,868 | Good | $18,241 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $45,593 | 23 | $22,987 | Manageable | $8,791 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Wingate UniversityPrivate | $37,208 | 15 | $25,000 | Challenging | $27,506 | 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 →
