What can you do with a Economics degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 48 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 64%, Economics graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison have a slightly lower likelihood (-3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 64%
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 25% 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 Wisconsin-Madison and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Economics. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Associate Banker
BMO Harris Bank
Nov 2019 - Present
As an Associate Banker, the job directly involves applying economic principles and financial knowledge gained from a Bachelor's degree in Economics, making it highly relevant.

ABOUT

I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a BA in Economics through the College of Letters and Science and a Certificate of Entrepreneurship through the Wisconsin School of Business. I am currently working as a Associate Banker for BMO Bank along side my incredible team in Sauk City, Wisconsin.More about myself, I am an avid outdoors man who enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, hunting, fishing, and generally anything outside. I enjoy music of all genres and even play some guitar. Lastly, I am a big Wisconsin sports fan and love the Brewers, Badgers, and Packers. GO PACK GO!!!

What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

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


Individuals who graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison predominantly find themselves in roles related to finance, banking, and consulting. Many have entered positions such as Financial Analysts, Credit Analysts, and Financial Advisors. These positions are highly relevant to their field of study, as they require a solid understanding of economic principles and financial analysis. For instance, roles in financial services allow graduates to apply the analytical skills and theoretical knowledge gained during their time in academia, making these jobs a direct extension of their educational background.

However, not all graduates are working in roles that utilize their economics education to its fullest potential. Some have taken on jobs in sales, project management, and administrative roles that don't directly require economic expertise. For example, positions like Sales Agents or University Services Associate could involve some transferrable skills but often lack the significant economic analysis that would tie back to their degree. Overall, while a good number of graduates are in positions that leverage their economics knowledge very effectively, there is still a notable portion of them who have chosen or found themselves in jobs with only a loose connection to their Economics education.

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 Wisconsin-Madison):

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

Graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Economics tend to have pretty solid career trajectories, especially in finance, sales, and project management roles. For many of them, their first jobs after graduation are often entry-level positions in finance, such as financial analysts or inventory analysts, or roles in sales, which makes sense considering the quantitative and analytical skills they develop during their studies. Over the course of about five years, many of these graduates move into more senior positions, like project managers or regional sales directors, and some even make the leap into specialized areas like investment banking or legal internships. By the ten-year mark, it's not uncommon to see them in significant leadership roles, including positions like General Counsel or Vice Presidents in various businesses, which indicates a clear upward trajectory.

While some graduates have ventured into areas that may not seem directly related to Economics—like project management in non-financial sectors or sales—many have found ways to pivot their careers that build on the skills they gained during their studies. Others have taken on roles that are quite specialized, such as business analysts or economic consultants, which reflects well on their educational background. Overall, it looks like most Economics graduates from UW-Madison are using their degrees to carve out successful careers, often landing jobs that are financially lucrative and relevant to their studies. So, if you're considering studying Economics there, it seems like a pretty solid path toward a meaningful career!

How hard is a Economics degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is generally considered to be on the tougher side, especially if you’re not super comfortable with math and statistics. The coursework often involves a good amount of analytical thinking and problem-solving, which can be challenging if those aren’t your strong points. Plus, the professors there are known for being pretty demanding, so you’ll need to keep up with the readings and assignments. That said, if you’re interested in the subject and willing to put in the effort, it can definitely be rewarding. Overall, it’s a solid mix of difficulty with some interesting content, so just be ready to put your thinking cap on!

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 Wisconsin-Madison tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Economics graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it seems like many of them are doing pretty well for themselves. A good number of folks landed positions in solid companies or even moved up the ranks to higher roles like Vice Presidents and Directors, especially in finance and consulting, which generally means decent salaries. However, there are also quite a few who have taken more traditional or lower-paying roles, especially in the early stages of their careers, like internships or entry-level positions. Overall, while some are likely raking in good money now, it’s a mixed bag—those who’ve climbed the corporate ladder tend to enjoy better pay, while some others are still working their way up.

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 Wisconsin-Madison). 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