What can you do with a Economics degree from Penn State University?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from Penn State 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 51 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Economics graduates from Penn State 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 29% 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 Penn State University?
• What do Economics graduates from Penn State University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Economics degree from Penn State University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Economics degree from Penn State University?
• What are the best colleges for Economics?

View a random Economics graduate from Penn State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 97% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2020 from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Economics. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Summer Leadership Development Program Munich Re Jun 2020 - Aug 2020 The Summer Leadership Development Program may involve some transferable leadership skills that could relate indirectly to economics, but it does not require specific economics knowledge or skills as core qualifications. International Graduate Trainee Program Munich Re Jun 2021 - Jun 2023 The International Graduate Trainee Program at Munich Re likely involves applying economic principles and analytical skills regularly, making it highly relevant to the degree in economics. Insurance Programs Underwriter Munich Re Specialty - North America Jul 2023 - Present As an Insurance Programs Underwriter, the job directly utilizes economic concepts, risk assessment, and analytical skills gained from the economics degree, thus demonstrating high relevance. ABOUT Insurance Underwriter | Passionate about AI & Automation | Analytical ThinkerPassionate insurance underwriter experienced in evaluating complex risks. Dedicated to leveraging AI and automation for streamlined processes and improved risk assessment. Let's connect to explore the future of underwriting together.

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

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

• Associate
• Military Pay Technician
• Production Coordinator
• Project Manager
• Merchandise Planner
• Staff Assistant
• Law Clerk
• Brokerage Investment Professional
• Goalkeeper Director
• Assistant Coach for Womens Soccer

When looking at the job history of individuals who graduated with a degree in Economics from Penn State University, it's interesting to see a diverse array of positions they've undertaken. Many of these jobs span various fields like finance, law, marketing, and education. Yet, what stands out is the connection—or lack thereof—to economics as a foundational element of their work responsibilities. The most common types of jobs appear to be in financial services, analysis, and planning, especially roles like Financial Analyst, Business Analyst, and various banking positions. These jobs tend to heavily utilize the skills and knowledge acquired during their Economics degree, demonstrating a clear relevance to their educational background.

On the other hand, numerous graduates have ventured into positions where the connection to economics is less apparent. For instance, roles like Executive Team Lead at retail companies, teaching positions, or creative jobs in media appear to utilize some transferable skills, but do not fundamentally engage with economic principles. Even in cases where analytical skills are beneficial, positions often focus on operational or administrative tasks rather than applying economics in a direct manner. This divide suggests that while an Economics degree can open doors to various career paths, not every job related to business or management will explicitly demand economic theory or analysis as a core component. In conclusion, while many graduates are well-aligned with roles that harness their educational foundation, a significant proportion find themselves in positions that, while valuable, do not require a strong economics focus on a daily basis.

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 Penn State University):

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

So, you're looking at the career paths of people who studied Economics at Penn State University, huh? Let's dive into it! Graduates from this program have taken a wide range of career trajectories, and it’s actually pretty interesting to see where they end up. Right out of college, many of these grads seem to land jobs in fields that are related to economics, finance, and marketing, which is what you'd expect. For instance, positions like analysts, financial planners, and marketing coordinators pop up frequently among recent graduates. This suggests that they are, for the most part, leveraging their degrees in ways that align with their studies.

Now, looking at what happens five to ten years down the line, the trends start to reveal a bit more about the effectiveness of their education. Many graduates have moved up in their respective fields. For example, we see folks transitioning from entry-level analyst roles to senior positions within companies like Vanguard and Nike. Some even take on managerial roles or move into specialized areas like product management or strategic planning, indicating that they have gained valuable experience and skills. It looks like the education from Penn State provides a solid foundation for career growth in finance and corporate sectors. However, it's also notable that not everyone follows a linear path; some grads venture into completely different fields like law and education. This can either be seen as a failure to use their degree directly or as a testament to the versatility of an economics background.

On the flip side, there are definitely examples of grads who end up in roles that seem less related to economics. Some find themselves in marketing and retail management, while a few others take on administrative or operational positions that don’t directly relate to their degree. This could lead to a conversation about the pitfalls of higher education in some cases—essentially, students might not always end up where they expected. It's a mixed bag for sure, making it clear that while many do find meaningful careers that utilize their economics skills, others might struggle to connect their education with their job roles. Overall, though, it looks like a considerable number of Penn State Econ grads have successfully integrated their education into strong, relevant career paths, which is definitely a positive takeaway!

How hard is a Economics degree from Penn State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Penn State can be a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. It’s definitely not the easiest major out there, but it’s also not the most brutal one either. You’ll need to tackle some pretty heavy math and statistics, along with theories that can get pretty complex, especially if you dig into micro and macroeconomics. If you’re someone who enjoys analytical thinking and has a knack for math, you might find it more manageable. On the flip side, if you're not super into numbers or abstract concepts, it could feel a bit overwhelming at times. Overall, it’s challenging but definitely doable if you're willing to put in the effort!

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 Penn State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these Penn State Economics graduates, it's pretty clear that many of them found their footing in decent-paying jobs, especially in finance, law, and business management. For instance, graduates who ventured into law careers, like the Trial Lawyer at The Beasley Firm or the Managing Attorney at Zwicker & Associates, are likely pulling in substantial salaries since legal professions often come with a good paycheck. Similarly, those specializing in financial analysis or management positions in reputable companies like Vanguard and Nike generally tend to earn quite well, especially as they climb up the corporate ladder.

On the other hand, some graduates took paths that may not be as lucrative. For example, those who spent time in roles like Delivery Expert at Domino's Pizza or working in retail might not have made as much money initially. However, many of these individuals transitioned into roles that suggest an upward trajectory in their careers. The fact that several have landed progressively better positions indicates that they are likely building their income potential over time. Overall, while there’s a mix of experiences, many of these alums appear to be on track to earn decent to significant salaries as their careers progress.

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 Penn State 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