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

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of Iowa 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 57%, Economics graduates from University of Iowa have a lower likelihood (-10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 57%
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 23% 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 University of Iowa and our analysis:


Relevance score: 91%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2023 from University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA in Economics. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Quantitative Analyst Intern
Iowa City Area Development Group
May 2023 - Aug 2023
The role of Quantitative Analyst Intern directly applies economic theories and quantitative analysis skills gained from a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics, requiring economic knowledge regularly.

Teach Assistant, Economics
The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business
Aug 2023 - Present
As a Teaching Assistant in Economics, the job involves directly utilizing and reinforcing the knowledge from the Economics degree, requiring a comprehensive understanding of economic principles and practices daily.

Transportation Planner Internship
Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
May 2024 - Present
The Transportation Planner Internship may utilize some economic principles in analyzing costs and benefits related to transportation projects, but it is not primarily focused on the core qualifications of the Economics degree.

ABOUT

I am a first-year graduate student at the University of Iowa, working towards a Master's degree in Public Affairs with a specialization in Public Policy and Transportation within the School of Planning and Public Affairs. My academic journey commenced at the University of Iowa, where I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) in Analytical Economics, alongside a certificate in International Business, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe.My current research interests revolve around understanding the economic dynamics of labor markets, with a particular emphasis on how underdeveloped countries can enhance the resilience and effectiveness of their labor markets to enhance economic development.

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

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


Looking at the job landscape for graduates from the University of Iowa with a degree in Economics, it's clear that a mix of positions spans various fields. The most common roles include banking positions like Financial Analysts, Loan Servicing Specialists, and roles involving data analysis, which directly relate to economic principles. For instance, jobs such as Associate Financial Analyst and Equity Research Analyst strongly utilize the skills learned in an economics program, like financial analysis and understanding market dynamics. However, many graduates find themselves in positions that don’t align closely with their degree, such as customer service roles, management positions in non-economic fields, or creative jobs like photography or skydiving instruction, which tend to underutilize their economics background.

Overall, while there are definitely some prominent economics-related jobs, a significant portion of graduates end up in roles that are either only tangentially related to economics or completely unrelated. This suggests that while a degree in Economics provides valuable skills, many graduates apply them in broader contexts or industries that don’t directly require economic principles. So, while some alumni leap into careers that scream “economics” loud and clear, others find themselves navigating paths that don’t really tap into the knowledge they gained in college.

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 Iowa):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of University of Iowa graduates in Economics, it seems like they are doing pretty well overall, especially when you consider their first jobs after graduation. Many of them jump straight into roles that have some relevance to economics, finance, or data analysis. For example, positions like financial analyst, loan servicing specialist, and data analyst pop up frequently. This suggests that right after graduating, a lot of these individuals found themselves getting into jobs that utilize their economics background, which is a good sign.

Fast-forward five to ten years down the line, and many graduates have moved into more senior positions or specialized roles, often within the finance or data analysis spheres. For instance, we see several individuals climbing the ranks at companies like Nalco and JPMorgan Chase, transitioning from analyst roles to managerial or specialized positions. However, not everyone followed this traditional path; some took detours into fields like event hosting or customer service, which might not closely relate to their economics degree. Overall, while a significant number of graduates seem to be building successful careers in relevant fields, there's also a notable portion that has ended up in jobs that don’t directly leverage their economics education. So, it's a mixed bag, but there are definitely bright spots that show many are finding their way into solid careers!

How hard is a Economics degree from University of Iowa?

A Bachelor's degree in Economics can be a mix of challenging and manageable, and while I don't have the specific scoop on the University of Iowa, in general, it tends to be on the tougher side compared to some other degrees. You’ll be diving into concepts like micro and macroeconomics, statistics, and possibly econometrics, which can require some solid math skills and analytical thinking. If you enjoy problem-solving and thinking critically about how things work in the world, you might find it engaging. But if numbers and theories aren't really your thing, it could be a bit of a grind. Overall, it’s not the easiest path, but it's definitely doable with the right mindset and study habits!

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 Iowa tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Economics grads from the University of Iowa, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag in terms of money made. Some have climbed the corporate ladder and landed solid positions, especially those who stuck around at companies like Nalco and JPMorgan, suggesting a decent salary along the way. Others, like the skydiving instructors and photographers, might not have hit the financial jackpot, depending on how steady the income was in those gigs. Overall, while some are definitely doing well, others seem to be in jobs that might not pay as well, so it's a bit of a mixed picture!

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 Iowa). 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