What can you do with a Accounting degree?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting 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 6066 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 75%, Accounting graduates have a higher likelihood (+8%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 33% 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 Accounting graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree?
• What do Accounting graduates do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Accounting degree? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Accounting degree?
• What are the best colleges for Accounting?

View a random Accounting graduate and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2018 from Southern University and A&M College- Baton Rouge with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Accounting. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Accountant I Division of Administration Office of Finance and Support Services Dec 2018 - Feb 2020 As an Accountant I, the role directly applies knowledge and skills gained from a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, requiring a foundational understanding of accounting principles and practices. Accountant II Division of Administration Office of Finance and Support Services Feb 2020 - May 2021 The position of Accountant II further builds on and utilizes accounting expertise acquired during the Bachelor's program, making it highly relevant. Accountant III Division of Administration Office of Finance and Support Services May 2021 - Sep 2021 As an Accountant III, this job requires advanced accounting knowledge and skills, directly tied to the education received in the Bachelor's program, ensuring high relevance. Accountant III Louisiana Division of Administration Office of Finance and Support Services Sep 2021 - Feb 2022 The role of Accountant III at the Louisiana Division of Administration continues to demand extensive accounting knowledge and expertise, directly applying the core principles learned in the Bachelor's degree. Accountant 4 Louisiana Department of Health Feb 2022 - Dec 2022 As an Accountant 4 at the Louisiana Department of Health, the position leverages advanced accounting skills and knowledge that align with the core subject matter of the Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Accountant Manager Louisiana Department of Health Dec 2022 - Present The Accountant Manager position requires comprehensive accounting expertise and managerial skills, both of which are integral to the education gained from a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, thus making it highly relevant. ABOUT Seeking new opportunities Hi, I have 5+ years of professional Accounting experience. I currently work with Louisiana Department of Health as an Accountant Manager. I am looking to take my analytical and leadership skills elsewhere. Also I am willing to relocate.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree?

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

• Staff Accountant
• Accountant
• Senior Accountant
• Tax Intern
• Audit Intern
• Financial Analyst
• Audit Associate
• Accounting Intern
• Intern
• Tax Associate

The job market for graduates with a degree in Accounting is diverse, with individuals finding roles across various industries that either leverage their accounting skills directly or slightly tangentially. The most common job titles among these graduates include positions like Staff Accountant, Audit Associate, Tax Accountant, Financial Analyst, and Accountant Manager. These roles typically demand a solid understanding of accounting principles, and they often involve financial reporting, analysis, auditing, and tax preparation, making them highly relevant to their undergraduate studies.

However, the relevance of specific job roles varies significantly. Many graduates transition into positions directly related to accounting, such as auditors and tax associates, where their day-to-day tasks involve using skills acquired during their studies. On the other hand, several individuals occupy roles that may involve financial tasks but do not primarily center on accounting knowledge, such as operations managers, human resources specialists, and financial consultants. These positions may utilize analytical skills or a basic understanding of financial principles, but they do not engage with core accounting tasks as frequently, reflecting only partial relevance to their degrees. Additionally, a notable number of graduates find jobs entirely unrelated to accounting, involving customer service, sales, or roles in entirely different fields like education and management.

In summary, while many accounting graduates successfully enter roles that are directly relevant to their degree, a significant number find positions where their accounting knowledge is either minimally applied or not utilized at all. This reflects a broader trend in the job market where accounting skills can be beneficial across various functions, but the degree itself does not guarantee direct relevance to all roles. The most common paths tend to align closely with accounting, but several graduate experiences illustrate the varied ways in which a foundation in accounting can influence career trajectories.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Accounting graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Accounting graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The career trajectories for graduates with degrees in accounting reveal a mix of stability and growth within the field, but there are some notable trends to consider. When looking at their first jobs after graduation, a significant number tend to start as interns or in staff positions, particularly in accounting firms such as Deloitte, PwC, and EY, or in various financial roles within corporations. This is pretty typical for accounting graduates. They often gain valuable experience through internships during their studies and very often are absorbed into full-time roles immediately upon graduation. Many start as associates or analysts right in the thick of things, which sets a strong foundation for further career development.

Fast forward five years or so, and you can see a clear pattern of advancement. Many have progressed to roles such as Senior Accountants, Audit Managers, and in leadership positions like Directors or Vice Presidents. The path from staff accountant or audit associate to senior roles is relatively common, particularly within large firms where upward mobility is designed into their structures. There’s a significant number of graduates who appear to build successful careers in accounting, often staying in areas related to auditing, tax, or corporate finance. While there are some who have veered into unrelated areas or who seem to have gone off on less stable career paths, the majority have been able to leverage their accounting degrees effectively.

However, it’s also essential to acknowledge the variance in success among graduates. While many have successful trajectories, others have ventured into roles that aren’t directly tied to accounting. For instance, some graduates have taken up roles in sales, marketing, or even education—indicating that the degree offers flexibility but may not always lead directly to traditional accounting roles as one might expect. In some cases, individuals might shift away from the profession entirely, either out of necessity or personal choice. So, while many graduates are finding their footing in solid accounting careers, there remains a significant contingent who navigate diverse professional landscapes post-graduation. This mixed bag of career paths underscores the importance of individual choices and opportunities beyond just the degree itself, painting a complex picture of what it means to graduate with an accounting background today.

How hard is a Accounting degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. It involves a fair amount of math, financial principles, and a lot of rules and regulations you need to remember, so if numbers and details aren’t your thing, it might feel tougher. However, if you enjoy logic, problem-solving, and being organized, you might find it more manageable. Overall, I’d say it’s about on par with other business-related degrees; it has its tough spots, but with dedication and good study habits, you can definitely get through it!

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 Accounting.

Do Accounting graduates tend to make good money?

Looking through these LinkedIn profiles, it seems many of the individuals have made good strides in their careers with a range of job titles suggesting they’re earning decent money. For instance, graduates working as "Senior Managers," "Directors," or in high-responsibility roles like "Auditor" or "Accountant" tend to make strong salaries, especially in well-known firms like PwC or Deloitte. Specifically, those who have moved into higher management roles or specialized positions such as tax specialists or financial directors are likely solid earners. Many have also progressed from entry-level positions to management or senior roles in just a few years, which shows career growth that often comes with increased pay.

On the flip side, there are also several graduates in positions that don't appear to have as much earning potential. For example, those still in staff accounting roles or various support positions might not be seeing as high a salary, especially if they’re at the beginning of their career journey. A lot of the early-career positions, like interns or added responsibilities on top of administrative roles, may indicate a slower start financially. Overall, while some are in high-paying positions, others are still working their way up, which is totally normal in the accounting field. It's a mixed bag, but many seem well on their way to making a comfortable living once they gain more experience and move up in their respective organizations.

What buzzwords do Accounting 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 Accounting. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Accounting?

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

College	Score	Count
University of Kentucky	98	12
Portland State University	96	14
Bentley University	94	10
Troy University	93	10
University of Florida	90	15
Weber State University	90	16
Temple University	89	10
Kansas State University	89	19
Western Illinois University	89	10
Baruch College	89	36
Wichita State University	89	11
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	89	17
Clemson University	87	17
Old Dominion University	87	10
University of Nevada-Las Vegas	87	12
Gonzaga University	87	11
San Diego State University	86	18
The University of Texas at Dallas	86	19
University of Maryland College Park	86	10
Saint Leo University	86	11
Grand Canyon University	85	11
The University of Alabama	85	18
The University of Kansas	85	12
The University of Texas at El Paso	85	16
California State University-Los Angeles	85	12
University of Houston-Clear Lake	85	11
Arizona State University - W. P. Carey School of Business	85	11
San Francisco State University	84	11
George Mason University	84	14
Central Connecticut State University	84	20
Florida International University	83	16
University of South Florida	83	19
Brigham Young University	83	25
Oregon State University	83	12
Robert Morris University	83	12
Rasmussen College	83	10
Penn State University	82	39
Louisiana State University	82	25
Oklahoma State University	82	21
Liberty University	81	17
University of Houston	81	17
San Diego State University-California State University	81	11
Metropolitan State University of Denver	81	11
Indiana Wesleyan University	81	17
Bryant University	81	10
Rutgers Business School	81	11
Florida State University	80	18
Colorado State University	80	13
North Carolina State University	80	11
California State University, Fresno	80	14
James Madison University	79	15
Brigham Young University - Idaho	79	18
California State University, Fullerton	79	15
Florida Atlantic University	79	27
Kennesaw State University	79	16
Northern Illinois University	79	21
California State University, Long Beach	79	12
Western Kentucky University	79	11
University of Alabama at Birmingham	79	15
University of North Alabama	79	11
Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business	79	15
The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business	79	10
Michigan State University	78	11
San Jose State University	78	22
California State University, Northridge	78	16
Mississippi State University	78	14
University of Nebraska at Omaha	78	11
Franklin University	78	20
University of Utah	77	13
Eastern Michigan University	77	15
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	77	11
Central Washington University	77	12
University at Albany, SUNY	77	11
University of St. Thomas	77	11
California State University-Sacramento	76	15
University of Mississippi	76	28
University of Illinois at Chicago	76	13
Northwood University	76	18
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	76	11
Texas A&M University	75	37
Texas State University	75	10
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business	75	17
State University of New York College at Old Westbury	75	14
University of North Texas	74	14
Towson University	74	18
DePaul University	74	14
Utah Valley University	74	16
Rowan University	74	17
Kean University	74	16
Rider University	74	13
The Ohio State University	73	12
Western Governors University	73	52
Western Michigan University	73	11
Boise State University	73	20
California State University-San Bernardino	73	16
The University of Memphis	73	15
Queens College	73	28
St. Cloud State University	73	10
Southern New Hampshire University	72	22
Iowa State University	72	12
The University of Texas at San Antonio	72	26
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	72	23
University of Central Florida	71	39
Youngstown State University	71	11
University of San Diego	71	12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	70	25
Sam Houston State University	70	23
Missouri State University	70	23
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	69	15
Washington State University	69	12
University at Buffalo	69	10
University of Alabama	69	13
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business	69	15
University of Nebraska-Lincoln	68	13
Siena College	68	13
University of Washington	67	12
DeVry University	67	30
Ashford University	65	21
University of Houston-Downtown	65	18
Upper Iowa University	64	14
Nicholls State University	64	12
California State University-Long Beach	63	13
Auburn University	62	15
Georgia State University	62	13
University of Phoenix	61	113
Virginia Commonwealth University	61	13
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	61	12
East Carolina University	60	10
Wright State University	60	10
Colorado Technical University	59	19
Strayer University	59	32
Valdosta State University	56	10
Southern Connecticut State University	55	10
Kaplan University	52	20
Monroe College	40	11