What can you do with a Accounting degree from Iowa State University?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from Iowa State 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 72%, Accounting graduates from Iowa State University have a slightly higher likelihood (+5%) 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 from Iowa State University?
• What do Accounting graduates from Iowa State University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Accounting degree from Iowa State University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Accounting degree from Iowa State University?
• What are the best colleges for Accounting?

View a random Accounting graduate from Iowa State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 95% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2016 from Iowa State University with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Assurance Intern RSM US LLP Jan 2016 - Apr 2016 The Assurance Intern role at RSM US LLP directly aligns with the accounting principles learned in the Bachelor's degree, involving daily application of auditing and financial analysis skills. Recreation Services Business Operations Graduate Assistant Iowa State University Aug 2016 - May 2017 The Recreation Services Business Operations Graduate Assistant position involves some administrative and operational management skills, but it does not directly utilize core accounting knowledge or principles. Assurance Manager RSM US LLP Oct 2017 - Present As an Assurance Manager at RSM US LLP, this position requires in-depth knowledge of accounting and auditing practices, making it highly relevant to the individual's Bachelor's degree in Accounting. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Science - MS Iowa State University 2016 - 2017 ABOUT An experienced accounting professional with RSM, I currently serve clients focusing in the industrial products, consumer products, energy, and software industries, including PCAOB/SEC compliant reporting. I am passionate about where business meets mission and thrive in dynamic environments that are team-oriented, results-driven, and mission-focused. Enneagram type 3. DiSC style i (influence).

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from Iowa State University?

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

• Head Coach
• Financial Services Representative
• Supply Chain Specialist
• Supply Chain Planner
• Course Management Assistant
• Sales Team Member
• Client Services Manager
• Employee Benefits Specialist
• Owner
• Accounting Intern

When looking at the career paths of Iowa State University Accounting graduates, it's pretty clear that many of them stick to areas closely tied to accounting, especially in roles like accountants and auditors. A good number of graduates have found themselves in positions such as staff accountant, budget accountant, and various roles at companies like John Deere, which directly utilize their accounting skills. For example, a bunch of graduates have expressed their expertise in areas like budgeting, inventory accounting, and internal auditing. These roles are ideal matches for their studies, showcasing how the knowledge gained during their time in school was effectively applied in real-world scenarios.

However, not everyone has taken the straightforward route into accounting-related jobs. Some alumni have ventured into positions that, while utilizing some analytical and financial skills, are not primarily focused on accounting. Roles like product managers or business analysts seem to draw on analytical abilities but stray away from the core accounting functions. Additionally, there are several graduates working in entirely different fields, from coaching to client services, where they don’t really tap into their accounting expertise. Overall, while many ISU grads find relevant paths in accounting and finance, others opt for diverse careers that don't always align with their degree, showing a mixed bag that varies widely from solid accounting roles to more generalized business positions.

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 Iowa State University):

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

When you look at the career paths of accounting graduates from Iowa State University, it’s pretty clear that many of them have found solid footing in the field right after graduation and continued to thrive over the years. Right out of college, a lot of these graduates kick off their careers with internships, which is a great way to get trained and gain experience. For instance, several started as interns at notable companies like John Deere and RSM US LLP, and many transitioned into full-time roles in accounting, auditing, finance, or product management. The trend suggests that after the initial step, whether it's an intern or a junior position, many graduates either stay in accounting-related jobs or jump to roles that still connect back to finance and products.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you see many graduates climbing the ladder within reputable companies or moving into leadership roles. For example, one graduate started at WebFilings and moved all the way up to a senior director position after just over a decade. Others have long tenures at companies like John Deere, moving from starting positions as budget accountants to senior roles as regional senior accountants or solutions analysts. While a few may have branched out into niches like supply chain management or fields unrelated to accounting, the overall picture shows that a significant number of these grads have built promising, relevant careers in accounting or finance. It's a good mix overall—with many finding their niche and succeeding in roles that build on their accounting foundation, which can be quite reassuring if you're considering this path!

How hard is a Accounting degree from Iowa State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, whether at Iowa State University or anywhere else, can be a bit of a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It’s generally more challenging than some other majors because you’re dealing with a lot of numbers, financial statements, and regulations. You’ll need to grasp concepts like bookkeeping, tax laws, and auditing, which can get pretty intricate. If you like math and analytical thinking, you might find it manageable, but if numbers aren’t your thing, it could definitely feel tougher. Overall, I’d say it’s about on par with other business-related degrees—challenging but doable if you stay organized and keep up with your coursework!

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 Iowa State University tend to make good money?

Looking at these Iowa State University accounting grads, it seems like some of them are doing pretty well for themselves, especially those who started off with strong internships and moved up the ladder quickly, like the grad from 2010 who's now a Senior Director at Workiva. Others took more winding career paths, like those who spent years in various roles at places like John Deere, which is a solid company to work for but might not offer the same salary jumps. The recent grads are still in the early stages, but they seem to be landing decent positions, with promising roles like Senior Auditor and Tax Associate. Overall, it looks like a mixed bag, but most have found stable career paths in accounting that can lead to good money down the road.

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 Iowa State 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