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What can you do with a Communication degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

First, some facts. Of the Communication graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 26 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 65%, Communication graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara have a slightly lower likelihood (-2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 65%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 38% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Communication graduate.

See the details:

View a random Communication graduate from University of California, Santa Barbara and our analysis:

Relevance score: 71%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Social Media Intern
Farm To Table Baby Mama
Jan 2014 - Jun 2014
The Social Media Intern position does not require specific skills or knowledge related to a Communication degree, as it primarily focuses on basic social media tasks rather than advanced communication principles.

Assistant Account Executive
FCB Global
Jul 2014 - Sep 2015
As an Assistant Account Executive at FCB Global, the job requires strong communication skills and strategies, which directly align with the knowledge gained from a Communication degree.

Account Executive
FCB Global
Sep 2015 - Jul 2016
The role of Account Executive at FCB Global requires extensive application of communication strategies and client interactions, making it highly relevant to the individuals educational background in Communication.

Senior Account Executive
Digitas North America
Sep 2016 - Dec 2017
As a Senior Account Executive at Digitas North America, the job demands advanced communication skills for managing client relationships, aligning closely with the skills taught in a Communication degree.

Account Manager
Digitas North America
Dec 2017 - Jul 2020
The Account Manager position at Digitas North America requires effective communication and strategic planning skills that are core competencies developed in a Communication degree program.

MBA Intern, Campaign Marketing
Adobe
May 2021 - Aug 2021
The MBA Intern role at Adobe may involve communication elements, but it primarily focuses on campaign marketing and business strategies, making its relevance to a Communication degree less direct.

Associate
McKinsey & Company
Oct 2022 - Present
The role as an Associate at McKinsey & Company typically requires analytical and consulting skills, which are not directly related to the specific focus of a Communication degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business
2020 - 2022
ABOUT

Hi, my name is [NAME REMOVED]. MBA graduate from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business (May 2022). California native who is passionate about storytelling and problem solving. Spent the past 6 years in account management in the advertising industry. Print and digital advertising, social media channel strategy development and execution, direct mail, multivariate and A/B testing, and client management. Hobbies include cooking, film photography, concerts and skeeball.

What jobs can you get with a Communication degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

When looking at the job outcomes for individuals who studied Communication at UCSB, it’s clear that many have successfully landed roles that utilize their degree in various ways, but there's a mixed bag when it comes to how directly relevant these positions are to their studies. A significant number of graduates ended up in roles such as event planning or production coordination, where communication skills are crucial. For example, positions like event producers, coordinators, and managers at various companies demonstrate a strong connection to the principles learned in their Communication programs. These jobs often require excellent interpersonal skills, planning, and the ability to convey messages effectively, aligning well with what they studied. On the flip side, there are a good number of graduates who have ended up in roles that aren't as relevant to a Communication degree. Some have pursued more technical or administrative positions, such as project managers or coordinators in fields unrelated to communication theory, even crossing into legal or corporate sectors. While some of these roles may benefit from communication skills, they don't directly engage the core competencies learned in their studies. So, while many alumni seem to find success in communication-related fields, others drift into areas where their education is only tangentially applied. Overall, it seems those who leaned into roles with a strong emphasis on communication tended to have more relevant career paths, while others found themselves in positions where their degree mattered less.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Communication graduates (this is across all Communication graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Santa Barbara):

What kind of career trajectories do Communication graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from the Communication program at UC Santa Barbara have followed a diverse set of career paths, many of which are relevant to their degree. Right after graduation, a common starting point seems to be roles in internships that are closely tied to event planning, media production, and public relations. For example, many early career professionals have taken internships and assistant positions in media companies, production houses, and event coordination, which leverage their communication skills and provide entry into competitive industries. This trend shows that the foundational skills learned during their studies are being applied in practical settings, setting them up for more specialized roles down the line.

Five to ten years later, we see a mix of trajectories. Many have advanced into leadership positions, like becoming directors or managers in event services, communications, and production. Those who pursued careers in media are often found in roles such as associate producers, while others have made notable strides into the corporate world, landing positions in fields like marketing and business development. However, not everyone ends up in a communication-centric career; some have diverged significantly into unrelated fields, like education or retail. Overall, it seems that while the degree can open many doors, the paths taken can vary widely, with a proportion finding gratifying roles closely aligned with their education and others exploring different avenues altogether.

How hard is a Communication degree from University of California, Santa Barbara?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Communication at UC Santa Barbara isn’t the easiest path, but it’s also not the hardest. It can be a bit demanding because you're diving into a mix of theory, practical skills, and critical thinking. You may have to juggle essays, projects, presentations, and sometimes group work, which can definitely add some stress. But if you enjoy engaging with people and exploring topics like media, culture, and relationships, you might find it pretty manageable—and even fun. It’s really about how much you put into it and your interest in the subject matter, so if you’re passionate about communication, you might find it’s more exciting than tough!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Communication.

Do Communication graduates from University of California, Santa Barbara tend to make good money?

When looking at these Communication graduates from UCSB, it seems like they’ve found a mix of paychecks, some decent and a few that might be a bit lacking. For example, those who jumped into the legal or entertainment fields, like the individuals working as associates or producers, likely racked up some solid salaries, especially as they moved up the ranks. On the flip side, a couple of graduates ended up in roles like teaching or retail, which usually wouldn’t stack up to those legal or production gigs in terms of cash flow. Overall, it looks like while some are doing pretty well for themselves, others may find themselves on the lower end of the pay spectrum.

What buzzwords do Communication graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Communication (this is across all Communication graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, Santa Barbara). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Communication?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Communication (ordered by the average relevance score of their Communication graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
New York University 82 14
Western Carolina University 81 10
Boston University 80 15
University of Florida 78 15
La Salle University 77 10
Moody Bible Institute 77 11
Virginia Commonwealth University 76 16
University of Wisconsin-Madison 75 22
Longwood University 75 10
University of Southern California 74 37
Utah Valley University 74 18
Wichita State University 74 10
Louisiana State University 73 40
Queens College 73 17
Gonzaga University 73 10
Penn State University 72 62
Southern New Hampshire University 72 25
Auburn University 72 34
Brigham Young University 71 25
University of Missouri-Columbia 71 29
Georgia Southern University 71 12
University of Alabama at Birmingham 71 10
Southeastern Louisiana University 71 14
Pace University 71 20
Florida International University 70 38
The University of Alabama 70 12
Northeastern University 70 19
California State University-Northridge 70 22
The University of Memphis 70 10
University of California, San Diego 70 11
University of Hawaii at Manoa 70 15
UC San Diego 70 13
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 70 14
Stockton University 70 16
Biola University 70 12
The University of Texas at Austin 69 18
University of California, Berkeley 69 22
Cornell University 69 13
Missouri State University 69 11
Southern Connecticut State University 69 16
Salisbury University 69 14
University of Denver 69 14
Worcester State University 69 18
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College 69 10
Florida State University 68 46
Purdue University 68 13
University of North Texas 68 15
The University of Georgia 68 11
University of Arkansas 68 39
Azusa Pacific University 68 15
Santa Clara University 68 11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 67 16
George Mason University 67 17
University of Maryland 67 19
University of Maine 67 11
Loyola Marymount University 67 20
Tulane University 67 11
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 67 10
University of Arizona 66 28
Central Michigan University 66 18
California State University, Northridge 66 44
University of Virginia 66 14
University of Utah 66 29
Northern Illinois University 66 12
University of San Diego 66 23
Texas A&M University 65 56
University of Houston 65 18
DePaul University 65 15
California State University-Fullerton 65 18
University of California, Santa Barbara 65 26
University at Albany, SUNY 65 17
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 65 11
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 65 14
Eastern Illinois University 65 15
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 65 12
Valdosta State University 65 18
Marymount Manhattan College 65 11
James Madison University 64 31
California State University, Fullerton 64 39
University of Kentucky 64 29
Appalachian State University 64 24
University of Massachusetts Amherst 64 22
Wake Forest University 64 12
University of South Florida 63 74
Towson University 63 39
East Carolina University 63 27
Clemson University 63 17
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 63 35
University of Connecticut 63 30
Sam Houston State University 63 33
Baylor University 63 12
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 63 11
California State University-San Bernardino 63 19
Utah State University 63 11
Fordham University 63 22
University of Tennessee-Knoxville 63 14
University of North Carolina Wilmington 63 13
State University of New York College at Cortland 63 11
University of Montevallo 63 10
Brigham Young University - Idaho 62 29
The University of Texas at San Antonio 62 29
Bowling Green State University 62 20
University of Rhode Island 62 38
San Diego State University-California State University 62 13
Western Kentucky University 62 10
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 62 23
Coastal Carolina University 62 25
The College of New Jersey 62 12
Radford University 62 20
Hunter College 62 11
University of Illinois Springfield 62 11
Texas State University 61 35
Grand Canyon University 61 26
University of Colorado Boulder 61 29
California State University-Sacramento 61 40
University of Pittsburgh 61 22
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 61 30
Northwestern University 61 14
St. Cloud State University 61 19
University of West Georgia 61 21
Saint Joseph's University 61 12
University of Houston-Clear Lake 61 10
Arizona State University 60 123
North Carolina State University 60 24
Ohio University 60 56
University of Oklahoma 60 24
University of Maryland College Park 60 25
UC Santa Barbara 60 37
California State University, Fresno 60 17
California State University-Los Angeles 60 11
Curry College 60 12
University of Washington 59 67
University of California, Los Angeles 59 32
University of Michigan 59 20
Florida Atlantic University 59 25
University of Delaware 59 17
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 59 25
Boston College 59 16
California State University San Marcos 59 36
The University of New Mexico 59 13
Wright State University 59 15
University of Northern Iowa 59 10
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 59 20
Fairfield University 59 10
Wittenberg University 59 10
Texas A&M International University 59 10
University of Central Florida 58 49
University of Cincinnati 58 46
Kennesaw State University 58 25
Portland State University 58 17
California State University, Long Beach 58 30
California State University, Chico 58 16
Saint Louis University 58 11
University of San Francisco 58 15
Christopher Newport University 58 22
Temple University 57 42
Illinois State University 57 25
Northern Arizona University 57 12
Eastern Michigan University 57 20
Rutgers University 57 12
Boise State University 57 31
University of Louisville 57 30
Florida Gulf Coast University 57 25
Texas Christian University 57 15
Cleveland State University 57 13
East Tennessee State University 57 14
Bridgewater State University 57 24
Bowie State University 57 14
Michigan State University 56 45
Old Dominion University 56 30
St. John's University 56 14
Villanova University 56 16
Southeast Missouri State University 56 11
Tennessee State University 56 12
University of Phoenix 55 32
Liberty University 55 16
San Jose State University 55 47
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 55 27
University of North Florida 55 23
University of New Hampshire 55 21
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) 55 11
Stephen F. Austin State University 55 13
Northern Kentucky University 55 15
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 55 13
California State University-Dominguez Hills 55 13
Sonoma State University 55 18
Prairie View A&M University 55 13
Indiana University Bloomington 54 10
Texas Tech University 54 21
Iowa State University 54 13
Kent State University 54 25
Washington State University 54 11
College of Charleston 54 37
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 54 13
University of Colorado Denver 54 13
Virginia State University 54 13
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 53 30
Western Washington University 53 30
University at Buffalo 53 31
Eastern Kentucky University 53 11
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 53 12
Winston-Salem State University 53 11
State University of New York College at Oneonta 53 10
San Diego State University 52 29
University of Iowa 52 33
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 52 29
University of Mississippi 52 10
Oakland University 52 37
Wayne State University 52 13
University of Maryland University College 52 11
Minnesota State University, Mankato 52 23
Southern Utah University 52 10
San Francisco State University 51 59
California State University-Long Beach 51 33
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 51 12
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 51 29
Kean University 51 22
Eastern Connecticut State University 51 19
University of California, Davis 50 28
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 50 16
University of Missouri-Saint Louis 50 17
Western Illinois University 49 13
The Ohio State University 48 18
The University of Akron 48 10
University of Maryland Baltimore County 48 11
University of Tampa 48 21
University of Washington Tacoma 48 10
Clark Atlanta University 48 15
Colorado State University 47 30
West Virginia University 47 19
Delaware State University 47 12
State University of New York at Fredonia 45 10
University of Colorado Colorado Springs 44 13
Rowan University 43 19
SUNY Oneonta 43 19
Grand Valley State University 42 16
Mississippi State University 42 10
Southern Oregon University 30 10