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

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from San Jose 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 45%, Economics graduates from San Jose State University have a substantially lower likelihood (-22%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 45%
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 25% 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:

View a random Economics graduate from San Jose State 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 2010 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's in Economics. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Administrative Assistant
RDs Tax Service
Jan 2010 - Jun 2010
As an Administrative Assistant at RDs Tax Service, while the position may require some organizational and analytical skills that could be beneficial from an economics background, it does not directly utilize the specific economic knowledge or skills gained from the bachelor's degree on a daily basis.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


From analyzing the job trajectories of graduates from San Jose State University's Economics program, it seems like there are a couple of paths that stand out. Many of these graduates have ended up in roles like Financial Analyst, Procurement Analyst, or various management positions within financial institutions, where they’re actually putting their economics knowledge to use. These jobs typically require a solid understanding of economic principles, financial analysis, and data interpretation, indicating a strong relevance to their degree. Interestingly, occupations like Accountant or Administrative Assistant were also common, but these tend to focus more on task management and financial reporting without utilizing the core economics education.

However, it's important to note that not every job listed is directly tied to the principles of economics. Many graduates took up roles like Assistant Manager in a theater or Support Associate in retail, which didn’t really call for economic expertise at all. It seems like while a good handful of them have careers where their economics background is beneficial, there are quite a few others who have drifted into jobs that are more about general management or operational tasks. Overall, while there’s a mix of relevant and less relevant jobs, those who pursued roles in finance or analysis seem to be making the most of their degree!

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 San Jose State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from San Jose State University with degrees in Economics, it seems like there is quite a mix. For many, the first job after graduation is often entry-level positions, sometimes not directly related to economics. For instance, some 2010 graduates started as administrative assistants or merchandisers, which might not scream 'Economist', right? However, others jumped right into more relevant fields, starting as financial analysts or in procurement roles right out of school within a couple of years.

Fast forward five to ten years, and there’s definitely a broader spread of career paths. While some grads transitioned to solid roles in financial analysis, strategic sourcing, or even corporate financial planning at reputable firms like Oracle and Facebook, others drifted into various industries that may not leverage their degree directly. For example, there are those now working in operational roles or as support associates, which could feel a bit disconnected from their economics training. So, while many graduates find success in finance-related careers, others seem to wind up in jobs that don’t fully capitalize on their economics backgrounds. It's a mixed bag, showing that the direction one takes can really vary based on interests, opportunities, and a bit of luck!

How hard is a Economics degree from San Jose State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics can be a bit of a mixed bag, and at San Jose State University, it's no different. Generally speaking, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s also not the most brutal. You’ll dive into topics like microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics, and some quantitative analysis, which can get pretty intense if math isn’t your thing. The workload can be demanding, especially when you hit those upper-division courses, but if you stay organized and keep up with the readings, you can definitely manage it. So, if you're passionate about the subject and willing to put in the effort, it's definitely doable!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Economics.

Do Economics graduates from San Jose State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these San Jose State Economics grads, it's a mixed bag when it comes to earnings. Some seem to have landed solid positions fairly quickly, like the Senior Financial Analyst who went through a number of impressive finance roles and now works as an adjunct professor—those paths usually offer decent pay. However, others, like the Assistant Manager at a theater or those working in entry-level positions, might not be raking it in as much. The ones in tech and finance definitely seem to be climbing the ladder more quickly with better pay potential, while some in retail and administrative roles might be struggling to make ends meet. Overall, it looks like the economics degree gives a boost, especially in more lucrative industries, but not everyone is cashing in big time.

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 San Jose 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