What can you do with a Economics degree from University of Chicago?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of Chicago 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 22 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 83%, Economics graduates from University of Chicago have a much higher likelihood (+16%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 83%
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 University of Chicago and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Economics. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Mergers and Acquisitions Consultant
West Monroe
Jul 2022 - Mar 2024
As a Mergers and Acquisitions Consultant, the job requires a deep understanding of economic principles and financial analysis, directly applying the knowledge from a Bachelor's in Economics.

Mergers & Acquisitions Experienced Consultant
West Monroe
Mar 2024 - Present
Similar to JOB #0, the position of Mergers & Acquisitions Experienced Consultant involves critical economic concepts and analytical skills that are essential for the role, making it directly relevant to the degree in Economics.

ABOUT

West Monroe is a national consulting firm that was born in technology but built for businesspartnering with companies in transformative industries to deliver real, measurable results. Technology is who we are, it is not something we bolted on overnight, and we believe it is one of the greatest enablers of business value. Thats why we work in diverse, multidisciplinary teams that blend industry expertise with deep operational and technology capabilities to create quantifiable, financial value for our clients

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

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


Many graduates from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics have found their calling in sectors that directly apply their economic knowledge, particularly in finance, consulting, and research roles. A significant number have landed jobs as analysts, consultants, or economists at renowned organizations like J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Boston Consulting Group. These positions often entail analyzing economic trends, developing financial strategies, or conducting market research—activities that are tightly interwoven with the principles taught in their degree programs. Roles at institutions like the World Bank and RAND Corporation showcase a strong alignment with economic analysis, policy development, and research, further highlighting the relevance of their education. However, it’s important to note that not all career paths taken by these graduates are directly related to their Economics degree. Some have ventured into roles that, while utilizing analytical skills, don’t heavily draw on specific economic theories, like positions in tech support or tutoring. In essence, a considerable portion of these graduates has successfully translated their economics education into roles that are highly relevant to their degree, particularly in finance and consulting, while others have branched into fields where the connection to economics is more indirect or limited. Overall, the trend leans favorably towards relevant applications of their economics training, though there are exceptions in diverse career paths.

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 Chicago):

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

Graduates from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics tend to have quite impressive career trajectories, especially in the first few years after graduation. Many of them land roles in consulting, finance, or economics-related research positions, which typically provide a solid foundation for their careers. For instance, graduates from the early 2010s have gone on to work at prestigious organizations like Goldman Sachs, the World Bank, and Boston Consulting Group, often moving up to higher positions in just a few years. This trend continues into the five- to ten-year mark, where many alumni occupy senior roles or director positions, indicating a strong growth trajectory in their careers.

However, there are a few exceptions, especially with some graduates who pursued less traditional paths or ended up in roles that may not directly relate to their Economics degree. For example, a few went into teaching or community service roles right after graduation, which may not feel as connected to Economics but can still offer valuable skills. Overall, though, the majority of these graduates seem to be thriving in relevant and influential positions, with many continuing to climb the corporate ladder. So, if you're considering a degree in Economics from a prestigious school like the University of Chicago, it sure looks like a solid path toward success in various interesting fields!

How hard is a Economics degree from University of Chicago?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Chicago is pretty challenging—definitely on the harder side compared to many other schools. The program is known for its rigorous coursework and strong emphasis on quantitative skills, so be prepared for a lot of math and statistics. Classes often include heavy readings and complex theories, and the professors expect a solid understanding of concepts right from the start. If you enjoy diving deep into these topics and are willing to put in the effort, you can definitely handle it, but it's not your typical breezy college experience!

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 University of Chicago tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these University of Chicago Economics grads, it seems like a lot of them have landed some pretty solid gigs, which usually means decent pay. You’ve got folks moving through big names like Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and Boston Consulting Group, where salaries can be pretty high, especially in finance and consulting roles. The ones who’ve gone into research or non-profits might not be raking in the same kind of cash, but positions like 'Managing Director' or 'Vice President' hint at a healthy paycheck. Overall, it’s safe to say that these grads are likely doing well for themselves, at least compared to the average starting salary out there.

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 University of Chicago). 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