What can you do with a Accounting degree from California State University, Northridge?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from California State University, Northridge 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 78%, Accounting graduates from California State University, Northridge have a much higher likelihood (+11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 78%
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 12% 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:

View a random Accounting graduate from California State University, Northridge and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Staff Accountant
Guglielmo Accounting, Inc.
Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
The position of Staff Accountant directly requires accounting skills and knowledge acquired during the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

Staff Accountant
AGIA Affinity
Jul 2019 - Sep 2021
As a Staff Accountant at AGIA Affinity, the job involves applying accounting principles learned in the Bachelor's program on a daily basis, confirming its direct relevance.

Accounting/Administration/Office Manager
Griffith & Thornburgh, LLP
Sep 2021 - Present
The role of Accounting/Administration/Office Manager requires substantial accounting knowledge and expertise, which are core elements of the Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

ABOUT

Experienced Staff Accountant with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Strong accounting professional skilled in Microsoft Excel, Customer Service, Business Process Improvement, Windows, and Microsoft Office.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from California State University, Northridge?

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


Based on the LinkedIn profiles from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) graduates with a degree in Accounting, you can see a mix of job roles that range from accounting-specific positions to entirely unrelated fields. While many graduates went on to work as Tax Associates, Staff Accountants, and Auditors—roles that directly leverage their accounting knowledge—there are also quite a few who found themselves in jobs like sales, project management, or even in entirely different domains, such as healthcare or tech. This contrast highlights how not every pathway taken after earning an accounting degree aligns perfectly with traditional accounting roles.

Overall, it seems that those who secured jobs as Tax Associates or in similar accounting-based roles are tapping into the expertise and skills they acquired during their studies. However, many others ventured into positions that, while potentially beneficial in a business context, don't heavily rely on the specialized accounting knowledge gained. So, if you’re looking to pursue accounting and want to stay within that field, it seems valuable to target jobs that explicitly require accounting skills. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a position that doesn’t quite use what you spent years learning about numbers and finance!

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 University, Northridge):

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

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from California State University, Northridge with an Accounting degree, it seems like a lot of them are on pretty solid paths in the accounting and finance sectors. For many, their first jobs right after graduation often include roles like tax associates, staff accountants, or even progressing into internships which can lead to full-time positions. This is especially seen in graduates from 2014 onwards, where many landed accounting-related jobs soon after finishing their degree. For instance, the 2014 graduate has been working as an accountant for several years, which shows a good jump into the field right away.

Fast forward five to ten years later, things look promising too, with several graduates moving into supervisory roles or even starting their own firms. It's common for them to become tax seniors, supervisors, or even officers in accounting companies, reflecting growth and responsibility in their careers. Of course, not every graduate is solely focused on accounting; there are a few individuals who ventured off into different fields, like a graduate who became a software engineer or another who worked in customer service. But overall, it seems that most grads are finding their way into meaningful accounting positions and are growing their careers in ways that are aligned with their studies. So, if you’re considering accounting, it looks like a wise choice with plenty of opportunities down the road!

How hard is a Accounting degree from California State University, Northridge?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at California State University, Northridge, is generally considered pretty manageable, especially if you have a knack for numbers and an interest in financial concepts. It involves a mix of classes in math, economics, and various accounting principles, so if you're willing to put in the time to study and keep up with assignments, it shouldn't feel like a super uphill battle. That said, like any degree, there are tough spots, especially in courses that dive deep into taxation or auditing, where you may need to buckle down a bit more. Overall, it's about balancing the coursework and staying organized, but many students find it a rewarding and doable challenge!

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 University, Northridge tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these accounting grads from California State University, Northridge, it seems like they’ve generally been doing pretty well money-wise, especially considering the steady progression in their careers. The older graduates have climbed the ladder into roles like CEO and project manager, which usually come with decent paychecks, while others have snagged solid positions in accounting firms and in government roles, which also tend to offer good salaries. Even the more recent grads are starting off in respectable positions like auditors and tax associates at reputable firms, setting themselves up nicely for financial stability. Overall, while not everyone is raking in the big bucks right away, it looks like they’ve got a solid foundation for making decent money over time!

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 University, Northridge). 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