First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 60%, Economics graduates from University of California, Santa Cruz have a lower likelihood (-7%) 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, 36% 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: 14%We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2011 from University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONDirectorSan Diego State University Jan 2012 - Dec 2012 Content Management, Business Development, and Strategy Jupiter.fm Mar 2013 - Jun 2013 Production Assistant KUSI Television Aug 2013 - Jun 2015 Special Consultant Production Services KPBS Jul 2012 - Present Guitarist The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble Jan 2013 - Present Music Instructor San Diego Community College District Jun 2015 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster's degreeSan Diego State University-California State University 2011 - 2013 ABOUTAccomplished musician, producer, composer, and educator. Highly devoted and results-oriented with proven ability to develop and execute creative innovative programs. www.nicholasanthonycosta.com |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From analyzing those LinkedIn profiles, it seems like graduates of the Economics program at University of California, Santa Cruz have found themselves in a pretty mixed bag of jobs. A number of them have gone into roles that are closely related to finance and economics, like Mortgage Loan Processors and Economic Consultants, where they definitely utilize the analytical and theoretical skills they learned in school. For example, jobs like Quantitative Modeling Analyst and Tax Associate show a solid connection to the principles of economics, focusing on analysis and financial decision-making. These types of positions really highlight how an economics degree can translate into a career focused on data and financial insight.
On the flip side, many graduates have also taken on roles that don't directly tie back to their economics background, like music instructors or administrative coordinators. Even in jobs that require some business or financial understanding, like a Supervisor at a restaurant or a Sales Coordinator, the connection to economics is often minimal. It seems that while some graduates are leveraging their degree effectively, a significant number have ventured into areas that don't fully utilize their economics training. This suggests a broad range of possibilities after graduation, but not every path is as relevant to economics as one might expect!
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, Santa Cruz):
The graduates from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Economics seem to have a mix of career paths, especially when you look at their first jobs after graduation. Many of them, like the 2010 graduates, ended up in roles that aren’t necessarily focused directly on economics, such as being a Mortgage Loan Processor or working in health care as an Authorization Coordinator. This shows that while they had a solid foundation in economics, their first forays into the job market might not align perfectly with their degrees. However, they do seek out jobs that leverage their analytical and organizational skills in various fields, which is encouraging in terms of their employability.
Looking further down the line, about five to ten years after graduating, we can see some graduates making significant strides in their careers. For instance, the 2019 graduate became a Senior Economic Consultant and then moved to a role relating to disputes and investigations, which is a clear jump into a more focused economics-related career. On the other hand, some others from earlier years have settled into roles that are a bit more varied and disconnected from core economics principles, such as management in the food industry or retail. Others are taking on positions in areas like technology and finance, showing that there is potential for meaningful careers related to their degree. Overall, while not all paths are directly tied to economics, many are finding ways to utilize their skills effectively as they progress in their careers.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at UC Santa Cruz—or really, at most universities—is generally considered to be somewhere around average in terms of difficulty. You’ll dive into some complex theories, statistics, and math, which can be a bit challenging, especially if numbers aren’t your thing. But the good news is that if you're interested in how economies work and enjoy analyzing data, you might find it pretty engaging! Plus, UCSC has a supportive environment with resources like tutoring and study groups, which can really help you out along the way. It’s definitely a workload, but manageable if you stay on top of things and genuinely enjoy the subject matter.
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Economics.
Looking at the career paths of these UC Santa Cruz Economics grads, it seems like some of them are doing pretty well while others might not be raking it in as much. For instance, the one who climbed the ranks from an Accounting Assistant to an Accounting Manager and then to a General Manager is likely making decent money, especially in the finance and accounting sectors where salaries can be good. On the flip side, positions like Delivery Driver or Supervisor at places like Mountain Mike's or PetSmart don’t generally offer the highest pay, so they might not be cashing in big time. Overall, it seems like there's a mix of okay salaries in some roles, but definitely not all of them are hitting the jackpot. It really depends on the industry and the specific roles these grads have taken on.
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, Santa Cruz). 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: