What can you do with a Economics degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

First, some facts. Of the Economics graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 59%, Economics graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University have a lower likelihood (-8%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 59%
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 18% 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 Virginia Commonwealth University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 75%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Subcontractor
Siemens Energy
Mar 2023 - Present
As a subcontractor at Siemens Energy, this job may involve analytical skills relevant to economics, but it is not directly focused on economic principles or theories.

Freelance Data Analyst
Block Media Analytics
Mar 2023 - Present
The role of a freelance data analyst at Block Media Analytics directly utilizes quantitative analysis and economic modeling skills that align closely with the individual's education in economics.

ABOUT

Driven, Data Analyst with a passion for investigative research, data analysis, and storytelling. 1 year experience as a contract IT manager for a multinational project with Siemens Energy. Certified Data Analyst from the University of Richmond. Experience with complex project planning execution. Knowledgeable and up to date on the latest Data Analytics tools and software.Economics graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University.SQL lite, NoSQL MongoDBPython: Pandas, Numpy, Scikit LearnAdvanced Microsoft Excel, VBA TableauJavaScript: D3 Interactive Dashboards

What jobs can you get with a Economics degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

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


When looking at the career paths of Economics graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University, you’ll notice a mix of jobs that vary widely in their relevance to the field. Many graduates have landed roles in education, marketing, consulting, and some in regulatory positions. Teaching roles, like High School Mathematics Teacher or Education Mentor, do have a connection to economics, particularly through mathematical skills, but they aren't exactly using economics as a core subject. On the other hand, positions like Economic Education Intern at the Federal Reserve or roles in market research are way more aligned with their degree, making good use of the principles they studied.

Interestingly, while several graduates have taken on roles in consulting—like the Consultant and Senior Consultant positions at Booz Allen Hamilton, which lean heavily on economic analysis—the majority seem to veer off into marketing and IT roles that don’t fully utilize their economics knowledge. For instance, many have ended up as Marketing Managers or in cybersecurity positions, where economic theory might get a passing nod but is far from the main focus. Overall, while there are definitely relevant jobs that leverage their economics education, a significant number of graduates find themselves in positions where their degree doesn’t play a pivotal role in their day-to-day work. So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to how directly an Economics degree translates into their career choices.

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 Virginia Commonwealth University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of Virginia Commonwealth University graduates with degrees in Economics, it seems like there's a pretty diverse range of paths they've taken. For many, especially those who graduated in the early 2010s, their first jobs after graduation often leaned towards more traditional roles like teaching or internships in economic education. Those in the marketing domain made their way up the corporate ladder fairly quickly, landing positions such as Marketing Manager or even Marketing Director within just a few years. The trend seems to indicate that many graduates find ways to apply their skills in economics in careers that are either directly related, like financial analysis and consulting, or in adjacent fields like marketing.

Fast forward five to ten years, many graduates have secured solid positions in their fields, showing a mix of stability and growth. A few have moved into higher-level consulting roles or management positions in various companies, reflecting a strong upward trajectory. However, there are some who veered off the traditional economics path entirely—like those working as claims specialists or server jobs—which might suggest that not all graduates are utilizing their degree in a field strictly related to economics. Overall, it appears that while many alumni have found successful and relevant career paths, there are also those who have taken different routes, leading to a mixed bag of outcomes in terms of job relevance and career satisfaction within the economics realm. It's important for future graduates to consider their options and network to find their best fit after college!

How hard is a Economics degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Virginia Commonwealth University is pretty typical in terms of difficulty compared to other universities. You’ll definitely have to deal with a mix of theory and quantitative analysis, which can be a bit challenging if you're not into math or statistics. That said, if you’re interested in the subject and put in the effort, it’s manageable. It might feel a bit tougher than some other majors, especially with the math-heavy coursework and the need to think critically about economic theories and real-world applications. But overall, it’s a rewarding experience, especially if you keep up with your studies and take advantage of your professors’ office hours if you ever feel lost. Just stay organized, and you’ll do just fine!

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 Virginia Commonwealth University tend to make good money?

It looks like the Economics graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University have ended up in a pretty diverse range of jobs, and the money they’re making varies quite a bit. For example, the ones who jumped into consulting and marketing roles, especially those working at firms like Booz Allen Hamilton and FTI Consulting, are likely pulling in decent salaries, given how well those sectors tend to pay. On the other hand, roles like teaching and starting as a server might not be as lucrative right off the bat. Overall, while some have probably hit the jackpot in terms of salaries, others may be in more modest positions for now – but they’re likely building experience that can lead to better opportunities down the line!

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 Virginia Commonwealth University). 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