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

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from Duke 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Economics graduates from Duke University have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) 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 23% 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 Duke University?
• What do Economics graduates from Duke University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Economics degree from Duke University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Economics degree from Duke University?
• What are the best colleges for Economics?

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

Relevance score: 50% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Economics. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Private Tutor Freelance Sep 2015 - Present As a private tutor, the individual may use some knowledge of economics to help students understand the subject, but the role does not require a comprehensive application of skills or knowledge from a Bachelors degree in Economics. ABOUT I've always been someone who relentlessly pursues his interests. Whether it was building computers and trying to sell them during my middle school years, practicing my jump shot and my tennis serve, or reading about sociology and the tech space, I would spend countless hours and lose track of time doing the activities I loved. My studies at Duke have included courses in economics, finance, accounting, statistics, and entrepreneurship. In addition to my quantitative background, I have spent considerable time teaching students at Durham public schools as well as those in rural China. I hope to be able to chart a career path that aligns with my unique set of skills, experiences, and interests.

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

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

• Assistant EMS Medical Director
• Associate Medical Director
• Analyst
• Associate
• Undergraduate Researcher
• Research Assistant
• Field Researcher
• Staff Writer
• Emergency Medicine Resident
• Assistant Medical Director

After analyzing the job trajectories of Duke University Economics graduates, it’s clear that many of them have stepped into roles where they utilize their degree in varying degrees. A significant number have found positions in finance and analytics, such as Assistant Portfolio Managers, Financial Analysts, and roles at companies like Google and Goldman Sachs. These positions generally require a solid understanding of economic principles, making them highly relevant to their studies. Meanwhile, jobs like Compliance Analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank or Analytical Lead positions showcase a clear application of economic concepts in real-world scenarios, aligning nicely with the skill set developed during their time in university.

However, it's also interesting to note that not all jobs are directly tied to economics. Many graduates have ventured into roles like project management, tutoring, or even fields unrelated to economics entirely, like emergency medicine or student residency programs, where their economics degree has minimal relevance. While some positions, like those in corporate strategy and market analysis, do incorporate economic thinking, others focus more on technical or managerial aspects that don't leverage their economics background. So, overall, while there is a strong presence in finance and analytical fields, many graduates have taken paths that don't fully utilize their Economics training.

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 Duke University):

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

When looking at the career trajectories of Duke University Economics graduates, it’s pretty clear they’ve generally gone on to have solid careers that often align with their degree. A lot of them start with analytical roles, like compliance or research positions, shortly after graduation. For example, one grad became an Analyst at the Federal Reserve right after finishing their studies. Over time, many of these graduates level up into more senior positions in finance, consulting, analytics, and even some unique fields like emergency medicine or educational roles. For instance, a graduate who began in sales and trading at Goldman Sachs ended up climbing the ladder to a senior associate role at Bellwether, showing a clear line of progression in finance.

Five to ten years down the line, you’ll find that many are holding increasingly important positions in well-known companies, such as an Associate at Boston Consulting Group or a Director of People Operations at a cooperative. Others leverage their experiences to pivot into different but related industries, like one graduate moving from corporate strategy at BlackRock to a role in corporate coverage at Deutsche Bank. Overall, the picture looks pretty good: many Duke Economics grads appear to have carved out meaningful careers that utilize their economics background, blending analytical skills with business acumen. However, there are a few exceptions where individuals have taken unconventional paths or positions less directly related to economics, like tutoring or coaching, but those seem to be the minority in this group.

How hard is a Economics degree from Duke University?

Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Economics at Duke is pretty challenging, but it also depends on your background and interests. The coursework dives deep into both theory and quantitative analysis, so if math isn’t your forte, you might find it a bit tough. Students often have to juggle complex concepts in microeconomics and macroeconomics, along with statistics and econometrics, which can be pretty intense. That said, if you’re passionate about the subject and willing to put in the effort, it can be super rewarding. Overall, it’s definitely on the harder side compared to many other majors, but the support system and resources at a place like Duke can help you tackle the tough spots.

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 Duke University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Duke University grads, it definitely seems like they have made some decent cash over the years! Those who went into finance, tech, and consulting, like the folks at Google, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock, are likely pulling in pretty high salaries, especially as they climbed the ladder. Even the ones in the medical field, like the emergency medicine professionals, probably earn solid money considering the level of education and training required. The recent graduates seem to be starting off strong too, with roles at prestigious firms like Boston Consulting Group and positions that suggest upward mobility. Overall, it seems these Duke alum are doing quite well financially, thanks to their choice of majors and the career paths they've taken.

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 Duke 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