First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of California, Irvine 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 51%, Economics graduates from University of California, Irvine have a much lower likelihood (-16%) 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.
Also, after graduating, 50% 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:
Relevance score: 100%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2014 from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONSenior Finance ManagerNickelodeon Oct 2017 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Science (M.S.)Pepperdine Graziadio Business School 2014 - 2016 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From the profiles I analyzed, it looks like a lot of people with an Economics degree from UC Irvine end up in jobs that aren't exactly related to their field of study. Many took roles in areas like customer service, administration, or teaching, which don't really leverage the economic principles they learned. For instance, you have folks working as English teachers or administrative assistants, and while those positions might flex some skills learned in college, they aren't really an extension of an Economics degree. Even in some of the higher-level roles, like marketing manager and director, the focus tends to lean more towards marketing strategies rather than applying core economic concepts.
On the flip side, there are definitely some positions where the economics background comes into play more directly. Jobs like Financial Representative internships, Staff Services Analysts in healthcare, or roles like Senior Finance Manager and Tax Accountant at firms like EY do make good use of economics skills. However, these are more the exception than the rule based on the overall data. So, while a degree in Economics from UC Irvine opens doors, many graduates seem to find themselves in roles that don't utilize their specialized knowledge fully. It just highlights that having an Economics degree can lead to a variety of career paths, even if they're not always strictly tied to economics!
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 University of California, Irvine):
Graduates from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Economics seem to have quite a diverse range of career paths. When you look at their first jobs after graduation, there’s a mix of positions that are somewhat related to economics and those that really seem to stray from it. For example, some graduated and found roles as Financial Representatives, Analysts, or even in Customer Service for financial institutions, which align closely with their degree. However, there are also many who took on roles in teaching or administrative positions, which don't directly connect to their economics background. It suggests that while some found relevant positions right away, others might have been exploring different fields or just trying to gain experience.
Fast forward a few years, and it looks like quite a few of them have transitioned into stronger, more specialized roles. After five or ten years, we see graduates moving into positions like Senior Finance Manager, Data Scientist, or taking on Director roles in marketing and business analysis. This indicates that many have been able to leverage their economics background into meaningful careers, often climbing up the ladder in finance, marketing, or analytics. However, not everyone followed a straight path; some have stayed within non-Economics related fields, like teaching or administration. Overall, while there's a significant number who have found really solid roles in fields relevant to their degree, others have taken a more roundabout route. It shows that while an Economics degree can definitely open doors, what you do afterward can vary quite a bit depending on personal interests and opportunities that come along the way.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at UC Irvine can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your math skills and how much you enjoy working with data. The program covers a lot of ground—think of it as a mix of math, statistics, and social science, and it can get pretty rigorous, especially when you dive into economic theories and analyses. Overall, it’s generally considered a bit tougher than average because of the quantitative focus, but if you're someone who likes problem-solving and is curious about how the economy works, you might find it really interesting and rewarding. Just keep in mind that it’ll definitely require consistent effort and a good grasp of math concepts!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Economics.
Alright, so looking at these grads from UC Irvine, it seems like some have done pretty well while others are still finding their footing. For instance, a couple of folks have moved up into managerial roles and work in finance, which typically pays decently, while others started out in teaching and admin jobs that might not be raking in the big bucks. The ones in marketing, finance, and more technical positions like software engineering seem to be on a solid financial path, especially those climbing the corporate ladder at firms like Nickelodeon and EY. On the flip side, the ones who stuck with teaching and non-profit roles might not be making as much. Overall, it's a mixed bag – some are likely making good money, while others might be building their careers a bit more slowly.
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 University of California, Irvine). This may or may not be useful:
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: