What can you do with a Accounting degree from George Mason University?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from George Mason University 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 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 84%, Accounting graduates from George Mason University have a much higher likelihood (+17%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 84%
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 7% 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 George Mason University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 85%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from George Mason University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Staff Accountant
Providence Lawn and Landscape
Jan 2013 - Sep 2014
The position of Staff Accountant does not utilize the specific skills or knowledge gained from a degree in Accounting, as it primarily focuses on operational tasks rather than analytical accounting concepts.

Accounting Analyst
Decisive Analytics Corporation
Oct 2014 - Dec 2021
As an Accounting Analyst at Decisive Analytics Corporation, the job requires specific accounting knowledge and skills obtained from the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

Accounting Analyst
Barbaricum
Dec 2021 - Present
The role of Accounting Analyst at Barbaricum also necessitates the application of accounting principles and analytical skills taught in the Bachelor's program, making it directly relevant.

ABOUT

Experienced Accounting Analyst skilled in Analytical Skills, Microsoft Word, QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, and Costpoint. Strong accounting professional with a Bachelor's degree focused in Accounting from George Mason University.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from George Mason University?

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


So, if you take a look at the jobs that folks from George Mason University have snagged after getting their Accounting degree, you’ll notice a trend. A lot of them have gone on to work as Staff Accountants, which makes total sense since that role is essentially what a degree in Accounting is geared toward. Other common positions include Senior Accountants, Auditors, and various roles in consulting, especially at big firms like EY and Deloitte. These jobs are all pretty closely tied to what they learned in school, using core accounting principles and financial skills on a daily basis.

However, it’s interesting to see that not every job they took was directly related to accounting. For instance, some people started their own businesses or took on roles like Office Assistant, which don’t really require deep accounting knowledge. But overall, it seems like most graduates are finding roles that align well with their education, especially in accounting or finance-related positions. So, if you're thinking about majoring in Accounting, it looks like there are plenty of solid career options waiting for you after graduation!

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 George Mason University):

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

The career trajectories of graduates with a degree in Accounting from George Mason University (GMU) show a pretty clear path into the accounting and finance sectors right after graduation. For many of these alumni, their first roles typically involve entry-level positions such as Staff Accountant or Tax Preparer, where they gain the foundational experience needed to build their careers. For instance, graduates from 2011 transitioned from Staff Accountant roles to more senior positions like Senior Accountant or even CFOs within a few years. This suggests that the accounting field offers good upward mobility for those who stick with it, providing clear opportunities to grow in responsibility and leadership over time.

Looking further down the line, after about five to ten years, many graduates have moved into more senior roles or specialized positions, often at well-known firms like EY and Deloitte. Roles evolve into senior consultant or managerial positions, showcasing that those who stay the course in accounting tend to find solid careers that can lead to executive-level opportunities. However, it's worth noting that there are also a few outliers who veer off into unrelated fields, such as entrepreneurship or consulting roles that might not directly leverage their accounting skills. Overall, GMU accounting grads mostly find themselves well-placed in their careers, especially if they engage with firms that actively support career development, making it a pretty promising path right out of college.

How hard is a Accounting degree from George Mason University?

Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting can be a bit challenging, but it really depends on your strengths and interests. At George Mason University, like many schools, you’ll dive into a lot of numbers and concepts, which can feel overwhelming at times. You’ll have to tackle some tough classes like financial accounting, taxation, and auditing, which require a good mix of analytical skills and attention to detail. Some students find the workload manageable and even enjoy the math and problem-solving aspects, while others might struggle a bit more. Overall, it’s about average in terms of difficulty—if you’re motivated and willing to put in the effort, you can definitely handle it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Accounting.

Do Accounting graduates from George Mason University tend to make good money?

Looking at these accounting grads from George Mason University, it seems like they've made pretty decent money overall! The paths vary quite a bit, with some jumping straight into higher roles like CFOs and senior consultants at big firms like EY and Deloitte, which definitely suggests their paychecks are on the higher end, especially as they gain experience. Even those starting out in staff accountant roles seem to be moving up reasonably quickly to senior positions, which is a good sign for salary growth. A few have taken the entrepreneurial route, which can be hit or miss, but it shows they’re not afraid to take risks. So yeah, I’d say many of them are likely doing well financially, especially as they grow in their careers.

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 George Mason University). 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