Graduate Programs

Jump-start your career in one of the best programs in the world.

A Uniquely Rich Experience

With the academic resources and research expertise of economics faculty in two colleges — the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Poole College of Management — our graduate students experience uniquely rich research and learning, preparing them for leadership in today’s dynamic, global marketplace. It’s not surprising we consistently place graduates as professors in these fields at major land-grant universities and research institutions.

You can also pursue a Master of Science in economics or a Master of Economics. For currently enrolled undergraduate students, we offer the accelerated bachelor’s / master’s degree program.

For more information on our graduate programs, contact Xiaoyong Zheng, graduate program director: xzheng@ncsu.edu.

Our Strengths

Job Market Candidates

Advised by professors from Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Poole College of Management, our graduates are ready to solve problems and lead in their field.

Meet our Students

Job Placement

We boast a strong track record of placing alumni as professors at major land-grant schools as well as helping graduates land prominent positions in the industry.

We position students for success

Society-Relevant Research

Recognized as a premier graduate program globally, we have a solid reputation that stands on the high quality of our research.

We solve problems

Among the Best in the World

Our faculty in agricultural economics and policy are ranked #10 worldwide by The Center of World University Rankings.

Check Out the List

Doctoral Program

Faculty from both departments collaborate to offer a quantitatively rigorous program that prepares graduates for work in academia, research, government, and in private industry as consultants and analysts.

Our Ph.D. program is one of the best in the world. In rankings based on quality-adjusted journal citations, our program ranked #5 internationally in Resource and Environmental Economics, #5 in Agricultural Economics, and #6 in Resource and Agricultural Economics. It also ranked 2nd among economics Ph.D. programs by the Southern Economic Journal in the field of agricultural economics and 5th in a ranking based on peer evaluations.

CALS student Mike Jones standing on a staircase

The Economics of Cutting-Edge Ag Technology

The academic journey of Ph.D. student Mike Jones spans Peruvian potato fields and the irrigated deserts of Syria to NC State’s campus, where he studies how new forms of agricultural biotechnology can impact farmers and society.

Learn Why Mike chose the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at CALS

Meet Our Graduate Students

Mar 30, 2023

Graduate Student Spotlight: Laura Schumacher

An upcoming graduate of the NC State Master of Economics program, Laura Schumacher has used her passion for climate change solutions to excel in her studies.

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Nov 2, 2022

Graduate Student Spotlight: Yanning Zhang

A Q&A with Yanning Zhang, Ph.D. student and Jenkins Fellow in the Economics Graduate Program at NC State University.

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Aug 23, 2022

Yuyuan Che Wins AAEA Graduate Student Paper Competition

An ARE postdoc research scholar is recognized for her paper assessing peer effects in conservation technology adoption.

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Master's Degrees

Our master’s degree programs allow students to tailor their experience to match their own research interests and career goals. Students choose a terminal master’s track or a PhD-prep track, dependant on their personal objectives. Students also choose between a research project culminating in a thesis (the MS degree) or a coursework only option (the MR degree). Attending full-time or part-time is an option, and almost all courses are available online or in a variety of on-campus sessions.

Many master’s degree students enter the job market following graduation and gain employment as consultants, analysts and researchers in private industry and government while others pursue additional graduate work at NC State or other respected universities.

Accelerated Bachelor's - Master's

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) degree program enables exceptional undergraduate economics students at NC State to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace.

A student can count up to 12 credit hours of graduate level courses toward a Bachelor’s degree (in Economics or Agricultural Business Management) and toward a subsequent Master’s degree.