Higher placements and broader careers
The MA in Applied Economics is designed for students who seek careers in business, finance, or government as economists, forecasters, policy analysts, economic researchers, or managers with strong quantitative skills. Our graduates have been hired by employers in a wide variety of organizations such as research institutes, medical centers, financial institutions, and federal and state governments. Because our MA in Applied Economics program gives its graduates a unique combination of theory, policy analysis, and data analytic skills, our graduates are well positioned for promotions after their initial placements.
90% of our graduates, in recent years, have found work in their chosen fields within three months of graduation, with about half of those graduates having job offers in hand before graduation.
Salaries are typically in the $55,000 to $85,000 range. Our graduates earn on average about 30% more per year than those with a bachelor’s degree in economics. That amounts to over a million dollars of increased earnings over a lifetime.
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"A true asset on the job floor"
Alumni Success Story
“When I was researching graduate programs, I realized that UNCG’s masters of applied economics challenged its students in a lot more areas than other programs,” he says. “Whether it was being able to read somebody else’s research, figure out what they were going for, and defend it as if it were our own, or learn econometrics and apply it to public policy, we got a rich research background that was a true asset on the job floor.”
He credits the faculty’s diverse background for their graduates’ well-rounded education. “If there’s something you’re interested in, you can tap into their experience to learn more about it,” Buffalini says. “They come from great programs, such as the University of Chicago, Yale, the University of Virginia. And within the program, you’re not just one of 200 in an auditorium listening to lectures. If you do your part, they will actively engage in your education and challenge you.”
Read the full storyFull-time, part-time, and accelerated options
For those who want to pursue the MA in Applied Economics program full-time, this 30-semester-hour program is designed to be completed in just three semesters. However, we recognize that not everyone has the flexibility to pursue the degree full-time. We will gladly to work with those who want to pursue the program part-time to ensure they find the program equally as rigorous and rewarding. Currently, the MA program is only delivered during the day and face-to-face; we do not offer evening or online courses.
Extremely well-qualified undergraduate students who are economics majors (BA or BS) at UNCG can be admitted to the Accelerated Degree Program, which allows them to begin taking graduate courses as part of their undergraduate programs. With appropriate planning, ADP students can earn both their bachelor’s in economics and their MA in Applied Economics in as little as five years. See the separate section describing the ADP program in economics for more information.
Program StructureBeyond number crunching
Professionals who can address real-world problems in business, finance, and government with advanced data analytics are highly sought after in today’s competitive job market. The Bryan School’s Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Economics goes beyond the standard data analytics program. We provide graduates with a unique combination of economic theory, policy analysis, and data analysis skills.
We teach students to identify real-world problems, understand the nature and context of those problems, and use the combination of theory, policy analysis, and data analysis to solve those problems. Excellent training is also provided for students who wish to enter the PhD program at UNCG or to pursue additional graduate education at other institutions.
Program Curriculum Cost & Financial AidRecent positions of our graduates:
Health Economic Analyst,
Lockheed Martin
Economic and Financial Modeling Specialist,
Freddie Mac
Associate Research Analyst,
Center for Naval Analyses
Risk Analyst,
BB&T
Health Economist,
Abt Associates
Data Analyst,
Luxottica Group
Statistics Programmer,
SynteractHCR
Manager of Operational Analytics and Reporting,
Goodwill Industries
Qualitative Specialist,
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Policy Analyst,
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Economic Advisor,
World Leadership Survey Project
Model Governance Analyst,
First Citizens Bank
Research Public Health Analyst,
RTI International