Degrees
Colleges
About
First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 24 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 65%, Economics graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a slightly lower likelihood (-2%) 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, 37% 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: 64% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2016 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONFinancial Professional AXA Advisors, LLC Jan 2017 - Jan 2018 Registered Client Associate  Merrill Lynch Jan 2018 - Feb 2021 Senior Digital Specialist Merrill Lynch Feb 2021 - May 2022 Senior Success Manager Salesforce May 2022 - Jun 2023 Senior Salesforce Consultant  Aleysian Jun 2023 - Feb 2024 Principal Consultant Aleysian Feb 2024 - Present ABOUTAbout Me:Principal Consultant with Salesforce Administrator, Sales Cloud Consultant, and Service Cloud Consultant Certifications, combining financial services experience from Merrill Lynch and AXA Advisors (Equitable) with a successful transition into Salesforce Customer Success. Currently, I'm driving excellence at Aleysian as a Business Analyst and Project Manager while driving our Go-to-Market project collateral, playing a pivotal role in enhancing and expanding our sales practice. Experience: Proven success across multiple Salesforce projects. Extensive background in business analysis and project management. Known for creative problem-solving and innovative solutions. Professional Journey: Salesforce: My transition from Merrill Lynch and AXA Advisors (now known as Equitable) to the tech world allowed me to contribute to customer success at Salesforce. Financial Services: Previously, I worked directly with wealth management clients, gaining deep insights into the financial industry. From there I transitioned to role leading training and change management for Merrill Lynch employees. Aleysian: I currently excel as a Business Analyst and Project Manager while driving our Go-to-Market collateral to elevate and expand our sales practice. Licenses: Salesforce: I currently hold Salesforce Administrator, Sales Cloud Consultant,, and Service Cloud Consultant Certifications and always am working toward more certifications. Financial Services: During my financial services career, I held Series 7, Series 66, and Life and Health Insurance licenses. Strength: My unique ability to think outside the box and my expertise in cultivating strong customer relationships are the pillars of my success. Let's connect for potential collaboration. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Looking at the job trajectories of graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied Economics, it’s clear that there are a few prevalent types of roles. Many have gravitated toward positions in finance and consulting, like Financial Analysts, Pricing Analysts, and various consulting roles where their understanding of economic theories and data analysis skills come in handy. These jobs generally require a solid grasp of economic concepts, whether it's for analyzing financial data, evaluating credit risks, or making strategic business decisions. On the flip side, there’s also a noticeable number of graduates who have ventured into roles such as office assistants, customer management positions, or even barista and sports referee jobs that don't really align with their degree in Economics.
Overall, while a good number of these graduates have found roles that are quite relevant to their Economics degree, others have taken paths that barely intersect with their academic background. It seems that while economics majors have a lot of viable career options that directly utilize their skills, there are also many who have settled for jobs where their economics knowledge isn’t necessarily needed. So, if you’re considering this major, keep in mind that there’s potential for some pretty cool jobs out there, but a few people end up in roles that don’t tap into their education as much.
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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):
When we look at the career paths of graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who studied Economics, it’s pretty clear that many of them have found themselves in positions that are relevant to their degree. Starting from the first job after graduation, a lot of them begin in analytical or financial roles, such as credit analysts or sales coordinators. This initial experience often serves as a stepping stone into more specialized positions within finance or consulting just a few years down the line. For instance, we've seen several graduates transition into roles like financial analysts, consultants, or managerial positions, indicating that they are leveraging their economics background effectively.
Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these individuals are climbing the corporate ladder, taking on titles like Director or Vice President in various industries, particularly in finance and consulting. There's evidence of some graduates moving into operations and project management roles as well, showcasing versatility in their career trajectories. However, there are also a few who have diverged into completely different areas or started off in jobs that don’t align as neatly with economics, like sales or support roles. Overall, while there are some mixed paths, the trend suggests that a degree in Economics from U of I leads many graduates to successful careers related to their field, and they tend to stay within those relevant industries as they progress in their careers.
Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics can be a bit of a mixed bag, but at a school like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it tends to be on the challenging side. You'll dive into some pretty complex concepts, especially if you're taking higher-level courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. The math can get intense, so you’ll want to be ready for that. It’s definitely more rigorous than, say, some other liberal arts majors, but if you enjoy thinking analytically and have a knack for numbers, you might find it engaging rather than overwhelming. Just be prepared for some late-night studying and problem sets!
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 Economics graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, it seems like some are definitely raking in the cash, especially those who've landed high-level roles at major firms like J.P. Morgan and Aequum Capital—those guys are probably making great money as they move up the corporate ladder. On the other hand, a few of the recent grads are still in earlier or more entry-level positions and might not be pulling in the big bucks just yet. Overall, it feels like there's a solid mix—some are on a fast track to financial success while others are still climbing the ladder. So, it’s fair to say that while some are doing really well for themselves, others are still figuring it out.
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 Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). 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:
