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

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of Pennsylvania 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 18 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 69%, Economics graduates from University of Pennsylvania have a slightly higher likelihood (+2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 69%
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 27% 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 Pennsylvania and our analysis:

Relevance score: 57%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Analyst: Investment Grade Trading
MetLife
Jul 2015 - Oct 2016
As an Analyst in Investment Grade Trading, this position directly utilizes economic principles and analytical skills developed during the Bachelor's degree in Economics on a daily basis.

Trader
Guggenheim Life and Annuity Company
Oct 2016 - Jun 2018
The role of Trader requires a thorough understanding of market dynamics and economic indicators, making it highly relevant to the Economics degree.

Financial Analyst
Ventas, Inc.
Jun 2018 - Jun 2020
The Financial Analyst position involves applying economic insights and financial modeling skills learned in the Bachelor's program, thus being directly relevant.

Physical Therapy Aide
Athletico
Dec 2020 - Present
The position of Physical Therapy Aide does not utilize skills or knowledge from economics and is primarily focused on healthcare support rather than financial analysis.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctor of Physical Therapy
South College
2022 - 2023
ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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

The graduates from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics have pursued a variety of jobs, and it seems like there’s a strong tendency toward roles in finance, consulting, and management. Many have landed positions in investment banking, where they can directly apply their economic analysis skills to market dynamics and valuations. Others have taken roles in management consulting, where they leverage their analytical prowess to solve business problems and guide strategic decisions. Notable examples include those working as Senior Associates or Directors in real estate investment banking and management consulting firms, where understanding economic principles is essential for success.

However, not all job paths taken by these graduates have been directly relevant to economics. For instance, roles like Physical Therapy Aide or Software Engineer don’t really tap into the core skills and knowledge gained from an economics degree. In general, while many graduates find themselves in highly relevant positions that utilize their econometric and analytical training, there are also quite a few who end up in jobs that aren’t closely aligned with their academic background. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag: some clear winners in the finance and consulting fields that apply economics directly, but also a variety of roles that do not draw on their educational foundation as much. This variety shows that while an Economics degree can open numerous doors, the relevance of those paths to economics itself can vary widely.

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 Pennsylvania):

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

When you look at the career trajectories of graduates from the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in Economics, it’s pretty clear that many of them land impressive jobs right out of college. Most graduates seem to kick off their careers with roles in finance, consulting, or corporate strategy, which are all directly tied to their studies. For instance, many start as analysts at major investment banks or consulting firms, often moving into higher-level positions after just a few years. This is especially true for those who graduated around 2011 and 2012, who have quickly ascended from analyst roles to impressive titles like Vice President and Director in their fields.

Fast forward five to ten years later, and you can see a pattern of upward mobility. A lot of these alumni don’t just stick to entry-level positions; instead, they tend to evolve into leadership roles, whether that’s becoming a director of investment banking, a senior vice president at investment firms, or directors in operations and strategy at major corporations. It appears that a degree in Economics from a prestigious university like Penn can set you on a solid path for a rewarding career that’s quite relevant to the field itself. Of course, there are a few outliers who have taken a less traditional route or diverged into unrelated fields, but overall, the majority seem to find good conditions to thrive in the career landscape they've built for themselves.

How hard is a Economics degree from University of Pennsylvania?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Pennsylvania is pretty challenging, honestly. The program is known for its rigorous coursework, especially since it’s at a top-tier school like Penn. You’ll dive into some heavy concepts like micro and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and various quantitative methods, which can get pretty tough if you’re not already good with math. Plus, the competition can be intense since you’ll be surrounded by super motivated peers who are equally passionate about the subject. Overall, it's likely a bit harder than average, but if you're interested in economics and willing to put in the effort, it can definitely be a rewarding 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 Pennsylvania tend to make good money?

Looking at these profiles of Economics graduates from the University of Pennsylvania, it seems like a lot of them are doing pretty well financially, especially those who took paths in finance, investment banking, and consulting. Many of the earlier grads, like the ones from 2010 and 2011, have climbed the corporate ladder quickly, landing high-level positions like Director or Vice President, which usually means they’re pulling in six figures. Even the more recent grads from 2022 and 2023, while just starting out, are beginning their careers in solid roles at companies like Google and Deloitte, which likely pay decent salaries. Of course, there are some more unconventional paths, like the recent grad who was a professional tennis player or the one working in music publishing, that could be more variable in terms of income, but overall, if you get a degree from UPenn and go into finance or consulting, you’re probably set to make a decent amount of money.

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 Pennsylvania). 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