Read full review“Econ at UCLA is a grind and the down curve is brutal, but it’s super rewarding when it finally clicks.”
Difficulty
Moderately challengingJuniors rate it hardest
3.3/ 5
Share of students at each rating
Average difficulty out of 5, by class year
Overall average 3.3 of 5Based on 77 students across 17 schools.View review makeup
What makes this major demanding?
Worth it?
81% would recommend it
Read full review“Good as an add on for another skill based major and good for pre law. Useless by itself. Find less theory based class and you will succeed, unless you want to go into research or teaching or PhD. Learn accounting or computer science or data science or you have a hard time ding a job. Economics is not likely to be your career so plan another skilled based major or trade school Or connect with people in your desired industry. Your resume with only a degree will not make you successful.”
Many students weren’t fully sure when they chose Economics.
Read full review“I enjoy economics because I can apply what I learn in class to understand what's happening in the real world. Following market news also helps me connect economic theories to current events and keeps me curious about learning new things.”
Read full review“The major itself is really easy. As long as you're ok with calculus and statistics, you shouldn't have a problem with the coursework. Finding a career, on the other hand, is a whole different story. I would say on average less than 20% of my stress comes from academics, the other 80%+ comes from recruiting. Opportunities can be very lucrative, but you have to A) know exactly what you're doing, as it's very easy to generalize and end up with 0 transferrable skills, and B) be able to multitask and network extremely well. …”
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Suggested instead
Alternatives named by students who wouldn’t recommend Economics.
- Less math
- Stronger career outlook
- Easier
- Less writing
- Heavier workload
- Stronger career outlook
- More writing
- Less math
Studied together
- EconomicsPhilosophy1 student
- EconomicsPolitical Science1 student
Student paths
How students switch into and out of Economics
14%of current students switched in (6 of 43 answers to this question)
≈18%of those who started here left
Came from
Share of switchersWent to
Share of leaversWhere do students want to go?
Explore more interests
Select an interest to hear from students.
Is grad school part of the plan?
Will they stay in this field for grad school?
- Yes — continuing in a related field13%
- No — moving to a different field75%
- They’re not sure yet13%
- Not sure yet29%
- Not planning to38%
What you will study and do
Curriculum and careers
Economics is the study of how individuals, businesses, and governments allocate resources and make decisions. Students learn to analyze data, understand economic theories, and apply models to real-world situations to solve economic problems.
Core course themes
Microeconomics
Explores the behavior of individuals and firms in making decisions regarding the allocation of resources.
Macroeconomics
Examines the economy as a whole, focusing on issues such as inflation, unemployment, and policy impacts.
Econometrics
Introduces statistical methods and techniques for analyzing economic data and testing hypotheses.
International Economics
Studies trade theories, policies, and the effects of globalization on economies.
Public Finance
Analyzes government revenue and expenditure policies and their impact on the economy.
Development Economics
Focuses on economic aspects of the development process in low-income countries.
Common roles
- Economist
- Financial Analyst
- Policy Analyst
- Data Analyst
- Market Research Analyst
Why salary figures are not shownSalary data appears only when its source, geography, occupation mapping, and date can be verified.
Economics by school
Scores account for sample size- Career outlook
- 3.6
- Enjoyment
- 3.1
- Recommend
- 80%
- Career outlook
- 3.8
- Enjoyment
- 3.3
- Recommend
- 79%
- Career outlook
- 3.8
- Enjoyment
- 3.5
- Recommend
- 76%
- Career outlook
- 4.1
- Enjoyment
- 3.5
- Recommend
- 90%
- Career outlook
- 3.7
- Enjoyment
- 3.5
- Recommend
- 86%
- Career outlook
- 3.7
- Enjoyment
- 3.4
- Recommend
- 84%
- Career outlook
- 3.6
- Enjoyment
- 3.4
- Recommend
- 75%
- Career outlook
- 3.5
- Enjoyment
- 3.6
- Recommend
- 82%
Community
Big questions in Economics
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Student reviews
Good as an add on for another skill based major and good for pre law. Useless by itself. Find less theory based class and you will succeed, unless you want to go into research or teaching or PhD. Learn accounting or computer science or data science or you have a hard time ding a job. Economics is not likely to be your career so plan another skilled based major or trade school Or connect with people in your desired industry. Your resume with only a degree will not make you successful.
The curve is pretty terrible and grades are very professor dependent, but the content is interesting and UCLA economics has enough brand power to get you into competitive recruiting cycles
I chose Economics because it’s not only about money, but people’s experience in the society. Pomona college also does not offer finance or accounting, so Economics is the closest option that I feel like would prepare for a finance or professional services career. Pomona’s economics is in general more theoretical and reading and writing heavy when compared to others.
Economics at UCLA tends to be more analysis heavy, but allows you to explore both business and economics research. It is very important to develop your interests outside of courses as well.
highly theoretical major. if you're interested in a business career (such as marketing, investment banking, etc.), this might not be the most practical major, but it is still good regardless if you're looking for employment in these fields!!! professors are fine, classes are large, but you can always find 1 on 1 help during office hours and discussion.
Econ at UCLA is a grind and the down curve is brutal, but it’s super rewarding when it finally clicks.
What are you hoping to do after studying Economics, and how has the major helped you explore or prepare for your options?
After graduating, I hope to pursue a career in consulting, eventually focusing on how organizations and governments design policy and operations that create lasting value. Studying Economics, with a concentration in policy, has given me a framework for understanding incentives, trade-offs, and market behavior, which has shaped how I approach complex problems. Courses such as Intermediate Microeconomics and Money and Banking have strengthened my analytical reasoning, while my consulting internship allowed me to apply these skills to real business challenges. Together, these experiences have clarified my interests and prepared me to pursue roles where rigorous analysis informs meaningful strategic decisions.
- Interested in Business
The Economics major at the University of Washington is a solid choice if you're planning to pursue graduate studies. It builds strong analytical skills and serves as a good academic foundation. However, it's not very career-oriented, so you may need to supplement it with internships or other experiences if you plan to work right after graduation. The department's resources are limited compared to other majors, but the professors are knowledgeable and supportive.
I found that UCLA’s economics program was very theory based. I think that there could be more classes focused on practical applications of economics beyond statistical analysis.
The major itself is really easy. As long as you're ok with calculus and statistics, you shouldn't have a problem with the coursework. Finding a career, on the other hand, is a whole different story. I would say on average less than 20% of my stress comes from academics, the other 80%+ comes from recruiting. Opportunities can be very lucrative, but you have to A) know exactly what you're doing, as it's very easy to generalize and end up with 0 transferrable skills, and B) be able to multitask and network extremely well. But the same could also be said for a lot of majors out there. Good luck.
- Interested in Business · Finance & consulting +1
How does the coursework in Economics fit into a typical week for you?
For me, the typical coursework roughly takes about an hour for homework and maybe an hour or two to study or review. Although economics is math heavy, it’s nowhere near as difficult as engineering majors or math majors. I felt that the workload was very manageable, and I felt the coursework was easily understandable as long as you put some effort into the work. I’d have plenty of time to finish my work and focus on extracurriculars, whether it be hanging out with friends or applying for clubs. My fellow classmates also help me, whether it be with homework or guiding me through clubs and careers aligning with my major. I would definitely recommend majoring in Econ even if you have any doubts of not being able to manage the workload.
- Interested in Business · Entrepreneurship
I am currently studying Economics at Stony Brook University (SBU), and my experience has been very positive. The program is located in New York, which provides excellent access to professional opportunities and networking resources. The professors are supportive and knowledgeable, often encouraging critical thinking and data-driven analysis. The coursework is challenging but rewarding, combining theory with practical applications. SBU also offers a diverse student community that makes group discussions and projects engaging. Overall, the Economics program here builds strong analytical skills and prepares students well for future careers.
I enjoyed both computer science and economics in high school but economics piqued my curiosity more. At MIT, there's a major for computer science, data science, and economics in which you can choose to take more computer science or more economics classes after completing the mandatory classes. I found myself choosing economics classes. I also stopped enjoying my computer science classes due to the teaching style. The prospective jobs for that major were mostly in SWE, which I'm not the most interested in, so I decided to switch to economics and business management instead.
Switched from Computer Science
- Interested in Business · Finance & consulting +2
I liked learning economics because the professors I had were really patient and clear. They made the topics easy to understand and the workload was very manageable.
I wish I knew the workload going into this major and the fact that there is just as much work outside the class room, in regards to interviews, networking, and resume building, as inside of it.
- Interested in Business · Finance & consulting
- Planning a master’s
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