What Can You Do With an Economics Degree?

The study of economics places students at the juncture of social science, business and social policy. An economics degree from the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics produces well-rounded students with a strong understanding of businesses, markets and financial organizations. 

In this major, students explore subjects like the role and impact of international trade, the effect of monopolies on the economy and the problems of unemployment and inflation. Economics majors graduate prepared for careers in the private, public and academic sectors. 

What is economics?

Economics explains the behavior of individuals, groups and organizations based on the production and consumption of goods and services. Economists study the needs and wants of individuals, businesses, governments and nations to determine how resources should be allocated.

The two major aspects of economics include macroeconomics, which focuses on the behavior of the collective economy, and microeconomics, which concentrates on individuals and businesses. 

What is the difference between an economics B.A. and B.S.?

Choosing the right degree depends on a student’s strengths. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) economics students incorporate foreign language into their studies, while Bachelor of Science (B.S.) economics majors focus on demonstrating proficiency in mathematics and quantitative skills. Apart from the variation in math and language requirements, the degrees are identical. 

Is economics a good career?

Students who receive a bachelor’s degree in economics have the chance to continue their education or start a full-time position. Careers in economics offer a wide selection of job titles and settings, making it possible to find the most suitable job for any graduate. 

Those choosing to further their education can receive a master’s degree in economics or pursue various educational, business or legal fields. Lerner offers a master’s degree in economics & entrepreneurship for educators for those wishing to influence k-12 economic education.

How much can you make with an economics degree?

After graduating in 2020, 94% of Lerner’s B.S. economics majors were employed and earning a median starting salary of $60,000 or pursuing further education. 97% of Lerner’s B.A. economics graduates were employed and earning a median starting salary of $47,500, or pursuing further education. 

What companies are hiring economists?

While there are many options for economics graduates, the top employers of Lerner’s B.A. and B.S. economics graduates include, but are not limited to:

  • Amazon
  • AstraZeneca
  • Barclays
  • Citi
  • Conair
  • Cooper Horowitz
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Economics degree job titles

Job titles of recently graduated economics majors from Lerner include, but are not limited to:

  • Actuary
  • Consultant
  • Economic consultant
  • Economist
  • Environmental economist
  • Financial analyst
  • Insurance underwriter
  • Investment analyst
  • Investor relations associate
  • Management consultant
  • Market research analyst

Recent News

Meet Antonia Vázquez, UD’s Youngest Grad of 2026

Antonia Vázquez did not set out to be the University of Delaware’s youngest Class of 2026 graduate. She was just satisfying an insatiable thirst for knowledge and research. At just 18, she will graduate with a 4.0, a finance degree from the Alfred Lerner College of...

Hutchinson Lecture Highlights Youth Mental Health Investment

The University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, in collaboration with Women in Economics, hosted the 2026 Hutchinson Lecture on April 20 in the Perkins Student Center. This year’s lecture, Investing in Children to Address the Youth Mental...

UD Forms Neil Book School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The University of Delaware is launching the Neil Book School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, marking a major investment in innovation-driven education and experiential learning. Made possible through a...

Outstanding Lifelong Lerner: Jason Christie

Jason Christie, a Wilmington, Del. native and 2025 Ph.D. graduate in economics from the Lerner College of Business and Economics, is a digital fraud innovation strategist at Bank of America. As a graduate student, he chose Lerner for its strong economics faculty and...

Lerner Students Utilize Emerging Software in AI Boot Camp

As a sophomore living off campus and responsible for cooking her own meals, University of Delaware marketing major Tara LaMantia looked for recipe apps to help improve her skills, but found they didn’t include a lot of features she was looking for, especially when she...

Lerner Hosts 2026 Carol A. Ammon Case Competition

The University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics continued its tradition of experiential learning this spring with the Carol A. Ammon Case Competition, an annual event that challenges graduate students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world...