What can you do with a Accounting degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 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 25 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Accounting graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) 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.

×

Also, after graduating, 44% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Accounting graduate.

See the details:

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

View a random Accounting graduate from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2023 from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Accounting. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Tax Auditor California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Jul 2023 - Mar 2024 The role of a Tax Auditor at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration directly utilizes accounting knowledge and skills acquired through the Bachelor's degree in Accounting, making it highly relevant. ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

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

• Staff Accountant
• Senior Tax Associate
• Accountant
• Accounts Payable Specialist
• Bookkeeper
• Assistant Controller
• Senior Accountant
• Accounts Payable Clerk
• Sr. Specialist
• Senior Staff Accountant

After looking at the job paths of graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona who majored in Accounting, it's pretty clear that a lot of them have gone into roles that strongly relate to accounting. A good chunk of graduates have landed positions like Staff Accountant, Senior Accountant, or Tax Associate, where they're directly using the skills and knowledge they picked up during their studies—things like managing financial statements, preparing taxes, and overseeing budgets. These positions definitely show a solid connection to their academic background in accounting, highlighting how the coursework and real-world responsibilities mesh well together.

However, not every job aligns completely with the accounting field. Some graduates took to roles like Office Manager or Billing Clerk, which lean more towards administrative tasks and may not tap into their specialized accounting training as much. Even some roles in finance or related fields only partially connect to accounting principles, showcasing a mixed bag of relevance overall. While many have found their way into solid accounting careers, there are also plenty of others who veered off into roles that don’t fully utilize their accounting education. It's a reminder that a degree in accounting can open doors, but the job you end up in may not always be a direct match with what you studied.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Accounting graduates (this is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona):

What kind of career trajectories do Accounting graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates with accounting degrees from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona generally follow a trajectory that starts strong and tends to develop positively over the years. Most of them land their first jobs as staff accountants or entry-level positions in various companies shortly after graduation. For instance, a significant number of 2010 and 2013 graduates began as staff accountants, while those graduating in recent years are taking on roles like tax staff or accounting administrative assistants. This shows a solid foundation in relevant accounting roles immediately after college, which is crucial for gaining the necessary experience to advance in the field.

Looking at where these graduates are five or ten years down the line, many have moved onto impressive positions such as controllers, senior accountants, and even directors of finance, primarily in accounting firms or established companies. Some individuals have also ventured into government roles or specialized niche areas, like tax preparation and auditing. Although a few graduates have diverged into unrelated careers, most seem to have found rewarding paths in accounting or finance-related roles. Overall, it looks like a Cal Poly Pomona accounting degree sets up graduates for a successful career in the accounting world and related fields!

How hard is a Accounting degree from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona can be pretty challenging but not impossible, especially if you’re into numbers and problem-solving. The coursework involves a lot of detailed concepts like financial reporting, auditing, and taxation, which can get tricky, especially if you’re not used to the rigorous workload. The program is designed to push you, so you’ll definitely have to put in some time studying and maybe even working on group projects. But if you stay organized and keep up with your assignments, it’s manageable. Overall, I'd say it's on the tougher side of the scale compared to some other degrees, but many students make it through and find it rewarding!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Do Accounting graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona tend to make good money?

Looking at the job history of these Accounting graduates from Cal Poly Pomona, it's a mixed bag in terms of earnings potential. Some have worked their way up to pretty decent positions, like the Senior Director of Finance and the Controller roles, which typically come with a nice paycheck, while others seem to have taken a slower route or switched to different industries, like the person who went from being a Staff Accountant to a Hair and Makeup Artist. Plus, many of the earlier grads have established themselves in solid roles, likely earning good money, while some recent grads are still in entry-level positions or switching around jobs, which might mean they aren't pulling in a substantial salary just yet. Overall, it seems like those who stuck with accounting are on a better financial path compared to those who veered off into different careers after graduation.

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 is across all Accounting graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State Polytechnic University-Pomona). 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