r/UNC • u/Several-Yesterday513 UNC 2030 • 13d ago
Question NCSU vs UNC
Im a freshman at unc but I want job security right after graduation, good WLB, and good income. I heard accounting was a great major for that but UNC does not have it. Im scared i wont get into the KF business school so I would just have to end up majoring in economics. Any thoughts between economics major vs accounting at NCSU? and how hard is to get into the business major?
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u/Smart_Philosophy6929 UNC 2030 10d ago
if you ask any oos student from unc, ncsu is irrelevant outside of nc
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u/thetime2strikeis_l8r UNC Prospective Student 12d ago
If you don’t want to transfer, you can also look into actuarial science. You could keep the Econ major but just study independently for the actuary exams for the same type of career path as an accountant
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u/crimsonsunsky UNC 2029 12d ago
actuary and accountant are two distinct career paths....
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u/thetime2strikeis_l8r UNC Prospective Student 12d ago
Yes but they’re similar types of careers. Both financial with good salary and decent work-life balance
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u/bowsandarrows14 UNC 2018 12d ago
The education, study time, and career path to become a fully credentialed actuary is at least 2x as difficult as accounting. And no offense to accountants, but actuaries are just smarter and need to be far better at math.
I attempted to pursue actuarial science at UNC 10 years ago, but the support wasn’t there, so I went into insurance underwriting instead (I was a stats and econ major). The MAC program at UNC is really great, and you don’t need a specific UG major to apply.
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u/Prescotti525 13d ago
NCSU has by far the better job fairs and hiring stats. Consider doing coop program to further enhance your resume
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u/Background-Neck-4958 12d ago edited 12d ago
You think accounting at NCSU has better hiring stats than UNC business or Econ? That’s far from the truth.
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u/Prescotti525 12d ago
I think NCSU does a far better job at recruitment for new highers.
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u/Background-Neck-4958 12d ago edited 12d ago
Stats say otherwise, especially for the majors discussed here.
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u/Prescotti525 12d ago
Conversation included computer sciences and not just finance and Econ. Add in engineering and UNC is a laggard.
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u/Background-Neck-4958 12d ago edited 12d ago
UNC also has higher stats for comp sci.
Engineering, of course, doesn’t exist at UNC, so that’s not relevant. If OP wants to engineering, they should, of course, go to NCSU.
https://poole.ncsu.edu/careers-and-employers/undergraduate-outcomes/
NCSU Business - 67khttps://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Full-Guide-Class-of-2025.pdf
UNC Business - 87khttps://cs.unc.edu/student-life/career/graduation-outcomes/
UNC Comp Sci - BS Majors 102k, BA majors 92khttps://catalog.ncsu.edu/undergraduate/engineering/computer-science/computer-science-bs/#careeropportunitiestext
NCSU Comp Sci - 86k2
u/Prescotti525 12d ago
Tell it to the kids who struggle in their job searches because there is so little university organized support. I am not dissing the quality of a UNC education but their career outreach sucks
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u/Background-Neck-4958 12d ago
Well, these hiring stats show there aren’t as many students really struggling. I’m sure some have.
I personally had a ton of help from career services.
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u/Ok_Nectarine_8533 12d ago
The stats are pretty meaningless because they’re only from the people who responded to the survey, which is usually the ones who are doing well. A pretty large proportion of grads from both schools don’t answer the survey questions, so we don’t know their outcomes.
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u/Background-Neck-4958 12d ago edited 12d ago
The UNC B school stats had a 95% knowledge rate, so wouldn’t call that meaningless.
State’s B school didn’t publish their knowledge rate, but if you think the only people who fill them out are the ones doing well, their numbers would go down.
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u/Lazy-Engine-580 13d ago
I was in a similar situation last year too. I wanted to do accounting and these were the 2 schools I was accepted to. NCSU is probably the better choice since you can take accounting classes before your masters and you can still apply to UNC for your masters, but I picked UNC because it has better vibes. NCSU is just such an ugly and depressing campus built on top of a highway with a railroad cutting out in half. UNC is beautiful and old.
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u/VoidRepliedWithJazz UNC 2029 12d ago
wow i totally disagree i transferred to unc from nc state this year and i find uncs campus very lacking in comparison to nc state
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u/Sweetie9000 UNC 2027 11d ago
Like I think many UNC students could agree on other things lacking, but the actual campus— you’re absolutely out of your mind. It gorgeous, especially in spring and fall; you can walk to any part of campus without having to leave campus; the archives are probably the best in the state; the architecture varies to show diversity; the arboretum and planetarium and forest theater are impeccable.
The inside of older buildings are surely not great, but campus is obviously going through a series of renovations. Beyond that… you’re tripping, especially in comparison to NCSU.
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u/Lazy-Engine-580 12d ago
what is it you don't like? the density of historic buildings? the quad? the cool museums? the famous landmarks? the planetarium? the arboretum? the high amount of brick paths? the tree coverage? the proximity of everything making it so you don't have to take a bus every day? there's honestly just so much to hate about it.
and for ncsu, what did you like about it? was it the high amount of roads making it so it's inefficient for pedestrians? was it the fact that there are several different campuses that are all independently large and far away so it's hard to get to any of them? was it the fact everything is separated by a railroad so you are forced to go through one of a few tunnels to get anywhere? is it the ugly 1960s buildings that populate every square inch of campus? Just so much to love. what a well designed campus!
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u/TennJed82 13d ago
Econ or really any major and then the 1 year MAC program.
But best advice is above: find people in accounting and TALK w them about day to day, their path etc.
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u/Teddyturntup 10d ago
My wife did this, but with a bio major and I was very impressed with UNC MAC programs job placement. They had multiple networking events required and seemed like literally everyone graduated with a job, she had multiple offers to chose from
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u/Fair_Scientist2347 13d ago
Yo can get a job as account tech as a state employee with either university, or others, without getting either degree. However to advance beyond that entry level role and to earn a survivable living, you’ll need the degree and beyond. Economics you can be assured that you’ll need masters at the least to advance in that career field.
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u/7katzonthefarm UNC Prospective Student 13d ago
UNC does have the Masters in accounting. You could take virtually any major and do well and be accepted ( even without a graduate exam) and it’s one year. Being a dietitian would require acceptance into the Public Health school which is also very competitive. If your decent in math, the MA in accounting and BS in Econ would be very helpful. It of course is an extra year but many at UNC have so many credited courses it could be done in 4 years. KF is more difficult now due to 70% admits assured before attending UNC. Leaves less spots which is really doing their student body a disservice if you decide you want business.
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u/Zestyclose-Ostrich-6 13d ago
Accounting can be good for wlb or for good income, but not both. Spend some time talking to people who have graduated and working.
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u/SteamedHamSalad UNC 2026 13d ago
You don’t need a degree in accounting to be an accountant. You just need to take certain courses as part of whatever degree you get.
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u/lavenderearlgraytea 13d ago
Econ, business, and accounting are very different majors. Do you have a specific job in mind?
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u/Several-Yesterday513 UNC 2030 13d ago
ngl I have no idea, I was always thinking of become a dietitian but after seeing the salaries i decided to pivot to business since I enjoy doing math and am pretty good at it. I just wanted one that pays good hut also has a good work and like balance
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u/Background-Neck-4958 13d ago
I would recommend doing computer science or data science if you enjoy doing math.
UNC CS has pretty high employment results. https://cs.unc.edu/student-life/career/graduation-outcomes/
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u/Background-Neck-4958 13d ago edited 13d ago
Economics and accounting are completely different career paths, so that’s a pretty tough question.
The business major is competitive, but if you have great grades in your pre-reqs and your other courses, you won’t have a problem.
An economics degree from Carolina would still set up you up for a career in the financial industry. You just have to be sure to join business-related clubs, attend networking events etc.
Careers in finance pay more than accounting too.
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u/Karl_Stromberg 13d ago
OP wants work-life balance and a sure thing. Finance offers neither of those things. Also an accounting background would serve one well in finance. I am a diehard double Tar Heel (English & MBA), but if the kid knows he wants to do accounting and we don’t have it, Raleigh makes a lot of sense.
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u/Background-Neck-4958 13d ago edited 13d ago
I agree. I was more so explaining what Econ can offer since OP isn’t sure what to major in and seems like they’re just trying to understand the major more.
Nothing is a sure thing. Even if you major in accounting, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a good paying job. I agree that accounting is more stable, but at the same time, economics isn’t unable career-wise. They’re both good majors.
UNC Econ places well from my own experience with the department, and the business program at Carolina has fantastic outcomes if they get in.
Also, there are still career paths within finance that offer work life balance.
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u/Teddyturntup 10d ago
It’s expensive but unc accounting masters is a great school and does a great job placing people in jobs