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

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from Harvard 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 20 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Economics graduates from Harvard University have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 73%
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, 45% 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 Economics graduate.

See the details:

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


Relevance score: 41%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2023 from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Economics. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Underwriting Intern
Chubb
Jul 2023 - Dec 2023
The Underwriting Intern position at Chubb directly utilizes economic principles and analytical skills developed during the Bachelor's degree in Economics, making it highly relevant.

Player/Coach
Krakw Football Kings
Jan 2024 - Present
The role of Player/Coach for a football team does not require any economic knowledge or skills, focusing instead on sports coaching and teamwork rather than economics.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science in Risk and Insurance
Butler University
2023 - 2024
ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


When looking at the various jobs held by individuals who graduated with an Economics degree from Harvard, it's clear that a significant number of them have gravitated towards roles that involve economic analysis, investment strategies, and financial decision-making. Positions like Analysts and Associates in investment firms, business consulting roles, and financial analyst jobs are all prevalent. These types of jobs not only leverage the skills learned in their economics programs but also make use of their analytical and critical thinking abilities, which are essential in the economics field. Jobs like CFOs and Managing Directors also show that graduates are taking on high-level roles that require an advanced understanding of economic principles.

However, it’s worth noting that not all roles closely align with economics. For example, some graduates have ventured into sports, arts, or operations management roles that emphasized more conventional business or operational skills. These positions did not heavily rely on the core economic theories or analytical skills honed during their studies. So, while many graduates have found relevant positions that make the most of their economics knowledge, a portion have diverged into fields where their degree plays a lesser role in their day-to-day tasks. Overall, there's a solid mix of directly relevant jobs alongside some that are more of a stretch from their economics roots.

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 Harvard University):

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

Graduates from Harvard University with a degree in Economics typically follow some pretty impressive career trajectories, especially in finance and consulting sectors. For many, their first jobs after graduation are often as analysts or associates at major companies, like investment banks (e.g., Guggenheim Partners, Citi) or consulting firms (like Bain & Company). This trend highlights the relevance of their degree, as they’re jumping right into roles that leverage their analytical and economic expertise. Over the next five to ten years, many of these individuals progress to more senior positions, often moving into management or even executive levels. For instance, graduates who started as analysts have risen to roles like Chief Financial Officer or Managing Director, showcasing a clear pathway of growth in influential industries.

However, there are some outliers in the mix. While many graduates have remained firmly within economics-related careers, some have veered off into very different paths, ranging from sports and entertainment to teaching and coaching. For example, a couple of graduates pursued sports-related jobs and others ended up in roles that don’t directly correlate to economics, such as coaching or working in media. Nevertheless, the majority of Harvard Economics grads tend to find solid and rewarding careers that align closely with their field of study. So, while you might see some varied career choices, it seems like a Harvard Economics degree definitely sets a strong foundation for a successful professional journey.

How hard is a Economics degree from Harvard University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Harvard is definitely challenging, but it's also really rewarding if you're into it! You’ll be diving into a lot of complex theories, quantitative methods, and data analysis, which can be pretty intense compared to a lot of other majors. The coursework is rigorous, and you'll be surrounded by bright peers who are equally driven, which can make for a competitive atmosphere. It might feel tougher than the average degree, especially with the high expectations and workload, but if you’re passionate about the subject, you’ll probably find it super interesting and worthwhile! Just be ready to put in the effort, and don't forget to balance your studies with self-care and social time.

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 Harvard University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Harvard grads and their job paths, it seems like most of them are doing pretty well for themselves financially, especially those in finance, tech, and consulting roles. For example, the CFOs and investment bankers probably bring in six figures easily, which is a solid income. Even those in operations management and analytics seem to be on good tracks, moving up to director and VP roles. However, there are a few on the list, like the personal trainer or the assistant positions, who might not be raking in the same kind of cash, but they likely chose paths that align more with their interests. Overall, it looks like a good number of these graduates have landed lucrative positions that should keep them comfortably afloat!

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 Harvard 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