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What can you do with a Communication degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

First, some facts. Of the Communication graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 30 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 53%, Communication graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a much lower likelihood (-14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 53%
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, only 20% 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 a Bachelors degree is enough for most Communication graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Communication graduate from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our analysis:

Relevance score: 68%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Assistant Manager
Hollister Co.
Jun 2013 - Feb 2014
The role of Assistant Manager at Hollister Co. does not require specific communication skills and focuses more on retail management and customer service, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in Communication.

Nanny
Private Nanny
Feb 2014 - Present
As a Nanny, some communication skills may be utilized indirectly when interacting with children and parents, but the position does not fundamentally require the specific knowledge or skills taught in a Communication degree.

Licensure and Communications Specialist
Regional Office of Education #35
Sep 2016 - Present
The role of Licensure and Communications Specialist at the Regional Office of Education #35 directly applies communication theories and practices, requiring specific skills and knowledge from the Bachelor's degree in Communication on a daily basis.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Communication degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

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

When looking at the job paths of graduates with a degree in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it's clear that many have ventured into fields where their educational skills may not have a direct application. You'll notice a good mix of roles—ranging from Account Executives and Managers to Customer Service Representatives and various sales positions. While some roles like "Senior Associate, Experience Management" at EY or "Content Writer" at Forbes AAC closely tie back to communication skills such as managing client relationships or creating compelling content, many other jobs primarily focus on sales, operations, or administrative tasks, where core communication knowledge isn't leveraged as much. Overall, the relevance of these jobs to a Communication degree varies significantly. Some positions, particularly those in marketing, public relations, or editorial roles, utilize communication theories and practices effectively. However, many others, such as staffing roles, bartending, or managerial positions in unrelated fields, lack that direct connection. While graduates undoubtedly gain valuable skills in their work experiences, it seems like not every job aligns neatly with the specialized knowledge or capabilities from their communication studies. So, if you're thinking about what a Communication degree can lead to, keep in mind that it'll mostly depend on how you choose to apply those skills in the real world!

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):

What kind of career trajectories do Communication graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career paths of Communication graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems like they start off in a variety of entry-level roles mainly focused on communications, marketing, and customer service. For many, the first job after graduation is often something like a customer service representative, marketing intern, or sales role. This initial experience tends to be fairly diverse, with some stepping directly into roles that align closely with their degree, particularly in marketing and media.

As the years go by, especially around the 5 to 10-year mark, there's a notable shift. Many graduates seem to carve out solid careers in fields that leverage their communication skills—like public relations, account and project management, or even editing and content creation. Others have ventured into managerial roles or specialized positions like market analysis or event management. However, not everyone is in a direct line related to Communication, as some have taken jobs in sales or customer service that might not fully utilize their degree. Overall, while there are certainly some successes, there’s a mix of both relevant and unrelated positions, with many finding good opportunities by leveraging their initial roles to branch out into more specialized or managerial positions over time. It's a mixed bag, but with the right moves, many are doing quite well!

How hard is a Communication degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Honestly, the Bachelor’s degree in Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is generally considered to be pretty manageable, especially compared to some of the more technical or science-heavy majors. It focuses a lot on critical thinking, writing, and presentation skills, which can be challenging, but if you enjoy working with people and expressing ideas, you might find it more on the easier side. There’s a good mix of theory and practical application, so if you're motivated and stay on top of your assignments, you should do just fine. Of course, like any degree, it requires effort, but it's not usually viewed as the hardest path you could take!

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tend to make good money?

Looking at the job trajectories of these Communication grads from the University of Illinois, it seems like some have landed pretty solid gigs that likely pay well, while others are still finding their footing. For example, the grad who moved up through positions at EY and then took on an Assistant Director role is probably doing quite well financially, considering those roles typically come with nice salaries. Meanwhile, some others have taken a more unconventional path, like working as a bartender or in smaller companies, which might not bring in as much cash. Basically, it’s a mixed bag—some grads are raking it in, while others are probably still building their way up. Just goes to show, grad school wasn't the only factor; it’s also about the choices you make and the industries you get into after.

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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). 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