What can you do with a Economics degree from Cornell University?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from Cornell University 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 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 61%, Economics graduates from Cornell University have a lower likelihood (-6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

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

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Also, after graduating, only 22% 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 Economics graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from Cornell University?
• What do Economics graduates from Cornell University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Economics degree from Cornell University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Economics degree from Cornell University?
• What are the best colleges for Economics?

View a random Economics graduate from Cornell University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 75% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2014 from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Business Analyst RiskVal Financial Solutions, LLC Aug 2014 - Apr 2019 The Business Analyst role at RiskVal Financial Solutions may involve analytical skills that overlap with economics, but it does not directly require core economics knowledge on a daily basis. Technical Product Manager Solidus Labs Oct 2019 - Dec 2019 As a Technical Product Manager at Solidus Labs, the job requires a strong understanding of market dynamics and economic principles, making it highly relevant to economics. Senior Associate - Product Management element22 Feb 2020 - Present The Senior Associate - Product Management position at element22 necessitates the application of economic concepts for product strategy and decision-making, thus being directly related to the economics degree. ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from Cornell University?

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

• Associate
• Analyst
• Law Clerk
• Vice President
• Registered Nurse Emergency Department
• Software Engineer
• Consultant
• Legal Intern
• Judicial Intern
• Cellar Hand

When looking at the job paths of people who graduated with an Economics degree from Cornell University, it’s clear that a variety of roles have been taken up, ranging from law and legal support to finance, consulting, and even some positions in management and project oversight. Among these positions, many are heavily focused on legal work—such as law clerks and judicial interns—which, while prestigious, do not necessarily require the deep economic understanding that comes from an Economics degree. On the finance side, positions like analysts and traders at firms like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan heavily utilize economic principles, showing that for those who ventured into finance, their degree was very relevant and applied directly to their work.

However, if we take a broader look, it seems that not all jobs are directly related to economics. Many graduates are found in roles like project managers, quality managers, or even teaching positions, which don’t leverage their economic training extensively. For example, teaching positions and roles in public interest sectors don’t require the same economic analysis skills and might not resonate with the principles learned in their degree. So, while a decent number of grads are definitely using their economics background in finance and analysis roles, a significant portion has ventured down paths where their degree's direct relevance can be questioned. It’s a mixed bag, with some truly aligning with economics while others draw only loosely from that knowledge base.

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

What kind of career trajectories do Economics graduates from Cornell University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from Cornell University with a degree in Economics often kick off their careers in diverse but related fields, particularly finance, consulting, and law. For many, their first job is usually an analyst position, which allows them to apply their analytical skills directly. For instance, several graduates began their careers as financial analysts at major firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, or took on roles as policy analysts and consultants. This trend is evident in the early career trajectories listed, where many start as interns or entry-level analysts, gaining valuable experience in data analysis, economic theory application, or legal frameworks.

Fast forward five or ten years, and it’s pretty clear that many of these graduates have progressed well within their fields, often landing roles with significant responsibility, such as VP or even Director positions. They tend to stick in finance or law, moving up to managerial or executive-level roles in prestigious companies or firms. Others who may have started in consulting or policy analysis also find their footing, sometimes branching into specialized sectors such as public policy or operational management. It seems like the majority of these graduates leverage their Economics degree effectively, carving out solid and relevant career paths. Overall, it looks like a degree in Economics from Cornell can really set you up for success in various competitive and rewarding industries!

How hard is a Economics degree from Cornell University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Cornell can be pretty challenging, especially if you're aiming for those higher-level classes. It’s not just about crunching numbers; you’ll dive deep into theories, models, and a lot of analytical thinking. The coursework tends to be rigorous, with a mix of math, statistics, and some intense reading. While some students find it manageable, others really have to buckle down and put in the hours to keep up. Overall, it’s a bit tougher than your average degree, so definitely be prepared to work hard and stay engaged.

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 Economics.

Do Economics graduates from Cornell University tend to make good money?

Okay, so looking at these Cornell grads, it seems like they’ve landed some pretty solid gigs after school, which is usually a good indicator that they're making decent money. The law graduates have taken a traditional path with experience in top firms and even judicial roles, suggesting they’ve built a strong foundation for a high-paying career in law. Those in finance, especially at places like Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon, are likely raking in a hefty salary, especially as they move up the ranks. Even the ones in nursing and education seem to have stable roles, although those might not be as lucrative as those in finance and law. Overall, it looks like most of these folks are on a pretty good track to earn well, especially with their prestigious background from Cornell.

What buzzwords do Economics 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 Economics (this is across all Economics graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Cornell University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Economics?

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

College	Score	Count
University of Chicago	83	22
Northwestern University	80	26
Middlebury College	79	13
Davidson College	79	11
Miami University	78	10
Columbia University in the City of New York	78	10
University of Notre Dame	75	11
University of Maryland College Park	74	32
Villanova University	74	14
Dartmouth College	74	16
Indiana University Bloomington	73	15
University of Michigan	73	51
University of California, Berkeley	73	56
The University of Texas at Dallas	73	12
Boston College	73	33
Harvard University	73	20
The Ohio State University	72	26
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	72	26
Binghamton University	72	18
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick	71	11
Hillsdale College	71	13
Penn State University	70	51
Clemson University	70	17
University of Utah	70	19
University of Minnesota	70	13
Duke University	70	13
The University of Texas at Austin	69	44
Michigan State University	69	33
The University of Georgia	69	12
University of Pennsylvania	69	18
Yale University	69	15
Florida International University	68	18
Hamilton College	68	14
University of North Texas	67	14
Brigham Young University	67	26
University of California, Los Angeles	67	44
Colorado State University	67	15
Boston University	67	13
University of Massachusetts, Amherst	67	10
Vanderbilt University	67	19
Arizona State University	66	30
UC Santa Barbara	66	19
William & Mary	66	11
University of Massachusetts Boston	66	10
College of the Holy Cross	66	17
University of South Florida	65	15
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	65	24
James Madison University	65	11
University of Colorado Boulder	65	26
University of Southern California	65	24
University of Maryland	65	23
Syracuse University	65	11
University of California, San Diego	65	15
Fordham University	65	15
Stanford University	65	12
University of Wisconsin-Madison	64	48
University of Houston	64	19
San Diego State University-California State University	64	13
University of Florida	63	35
New York University	63	37
University of Virginia	63	30
University of Connecticut	63	23
University of California San Diego	63	11
Texas A&M University	62	46
University of Pittsburgh	62	20
Northeastern University	61	16
Cornell University	61	18
University of Miami	61	14
University at Albany, SUNY	61	18
University of California, Davis	60	33
University of California, Santa Cruz	60	11
University at Buffalo	60	16
Virginia Commonwealth University	59	11
Texas Christian University	59	16
Tufts University	59	10
Spelman College	59	12
Occidental College	59	11
Florida State University	58	37
University of Oregon	58	24
UC Irvine	58	13
Stony Brook University	58	10
The George Washington University	58	14
Emory University	58	11
University of Iowa	57	13
Santa Clara University	57	11
University of Washington	56	29
Rutgers University	56	15
Loyola Marymount University	56	11
University of Central Florida	55	12
University of Arizona	55	16
University of Hawaii at Manoa	55	12
Southern Methodist University	55	13
Georgia State University	54	17
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	54	16
Denison University	54	13
California State University-Sacramento	53	19
George Mason University	53	22
University of Delaware	53	11
San Diego State University	51	17
Northern Illinois University	51	12
University of California, Irvine	51	10
University of Georgia - Terry College of Business	51	10
Queens College	50	16
The University of Texas at Arlington	48	12
University of California, Riverside	48	14
North Carolina State University	46	10
San Jose State University	45	16
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	44	10
Baruch College	44	11
Wake Forest University	44	11
University of South Carolina	38	10
Temple University	35	11
United States Military Academy at West Point	23	15