What can you do with a Meeting and Event Planning degree?

First, some facts. Of the Meeting and Event Planning graduates 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 52 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Meeting and Event Planning graduates have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 62%
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 5% 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 Meeting and Event Planning graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Meeting and Event Planning graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Meeting and Event Planning. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Marketing Coordinator
Schuster Co
May 2022 - Present
The Marketing Coordinator position may involve some aspects of event planning such as coordinating marketing materials for events, but it does not require specific knowledge or skills from the Meeting and Event Planning degree as a core qualification.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Meeting and Event Planning degree?

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 individuals who graduated with a degree in Meeting and Event Planning, there seems to be a mix of relevant and irrelevant job experiences. Generally, the most common and relevant jobs include Event Coordinators, Conference Managers, and Catering Sales Managers. These roles are directly tied to the skills acquired through their education and involve specific competencies such as event logistics, planning, and client management. For example, a Convention Services Manager would apply the event planning strategies learned during their studies on a daily basis, ensuring that all aspects of an event run smoothly—from logistics to customer satisfaction.

On the flip side, many graduates ended up in roles that didn’t utilize their specialized training. Jobs like Substitute Teacher, Sales Team Coordinator, and even Flight Attendant focus more on customer service and general organizational skills rather than the specific art of event planning. While it's true that there are transferable skills—like communication and multitasking—the core duties of these positions do not cater to the more intricate aspects of event and meeting organization. In essence, though there are individuals leveraging their degrees effectively in relevant roles, a surprisingly high number are either underutilizing their abilities or have shifted into unrelated fields that don't align with their studies.

This divergence highlights a broader narrative that there’s no guaranteed straight path from degree to dream job in this field. Job markets fluctuate, personal circumstances change, and sometimes people just find themselves in positions that don’t fit their educational background. Ultimately, while many graduates find fulfilling careers closely related to Meeting and Event Planning, a significant portion of them veer off the intended path, proving that life has a funny way of changing our plans.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Meeting and Event Planning graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Meeting and Event Planning graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Analyzing the career trajectories of individuals with a degree in Meeting and Event Planning from the profiles provided reveals a mixed bag of results. On one hand, you have some graduates finding immediate employment in relevant fields right out of college, while others seem to wander a bit before settling into their careers. For many graduates, especially those from well-known institutions like the University of Central Florida and Purdue University, it appears that their first job is often a stepping stone into the events industry. Jobs such as event coordinators, catering managers, and roles in conference services seem to dominate the early career landscape. In fact, these initial positions are often at reputable hospitality companies or event-focused roles, showcasing a clear connection to their studies.

However, not all graduates stick closely to event planning in the long run. Some veer off into unrelated jobs like real estate or teaching, suggesting that while they may have started in a field aligned with their degree, the actual career path can diverge significantly. Five to ten years after graduation, there is a trend where some individuals do find fulfilling, higher-level roles like event managers, catering sales managers, or even opening their own businesses. But these successes aren’t uniform across the board. Several others remain stuck in positions that may not utilize their event planning expertise, or even shift into entirely different fields like marketing or education. So, while there are clear success stories and some graduates moving up the ranks in events, there are also many who appear to have taken less direct routes likely due to market conditions or personal choices.

Overall, it looks like a degree in Meeting and Event Planning can lead to solid opportunities right out of college, particularly in hospitality-related fields. However, significant variability exists in how long individuals stay in roles related to their degree. So, while many graduates do eventually find their niche in event planning, others might take a winding path, leading to some seemingly unrelated careers in the process. It is a mixed picture and reflects the often unpredictable nature of career trajectories in any field.

How hard is a Meeting and Event Planning degree?

Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Meeting and Event Planning isn’t typically as tough as some of the other degrees out there, like engineering or medicine. You'll definitely have some challenging projects and maybe a few sleepless nights while you're juggling event logistics, budgeting, and working on group assignments. But overall, it's pretty manageable, especially if you enjoy being organized and creative. If you're passionate about planning events, you might even find the coursework to be more fun than stressful. So, while it's not a walk in the park, it’s certainly more on the easygoing side compared to other fields!

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 Meeting and Event Planning.

Do Meeting and Event Planning graduates tend to make good money?

When looking at these Meeting and Event Planning graduates, it’s a mixed bag when it comes to salary. The person who graduated from the University of Alabama in 2014 as a realtor seems to be doing pretty well, as real estate can be quite lucrative if they're successful. On the other hand, many recent graduates, like those from Purdue and UCF, have bounced around between internships, part-time jobs, and entry-level positions in hospitality and event planning. While some roles (like Catering Sales Manager or Event Marketing Manager) might offer decent pay in the long run, many of these positions likely don’t start with a high salary, especially if they’re in the hospitality industry, which can sometimes pay on the lower side to start.

As for those who progressed into more managerial roles or established their own businesses, they could be making good money, but it's tough to gauge without specific salary figures. Some of these paths, especially if they lead to high-profile event planning or catering positions, can definitely pay off, but it all depends on how they leveraged their degrees and experience. Overall, while some individuals might be set up for potentially decent incomes, it looks like many will have to work their way up and face some financial bumps along the way.

What buzzwords do Meeting and Event Planning 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 Meeting and Event Planning. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Meeting and Event Planning?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Meeting and Event Planning (ordered by the average relevance score of their Meeting and Event Planning graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count