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

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from Missouri 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 23 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Accounting graduates from Missouri State University have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 70%
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, 52% 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:

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


Relevance score: 94%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2011 from Missouri State University with a Bachelor's in Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Medical Power Staff Accountant
EaglePicher
Mar 2011 - Oct 2011
The position of Medical Power Staff Accountant involves accounting tasks that do not require any specialized knowledge in the field of accounting beyond general bookkeeping practices, as it is not directly related to the specific skills taught in a Bachelors in Accounting.

Cost Accountant
PlayPower, Inc.
Oct 2011 - Nov 2013
As a Cost Accountant, this role directly applies the principles and skills learned in the accounting program, involving cost analysis and financial planning.

Senior Accountant
PlayPower, Inc.
Nov 2013 - Jan 2015
The position of Senior Accountant utilizes advanced accounting principles and practices, which correspond directly with the knowledge gained from a Bachelor's in Accounting.

Accounting Contractor
Jack Henry
Feb 2015 - May 2015
The Accounting Contractor at Jack Henry may leverage general accounting skills, but does not necessarily require the advanced or specific knowledge gained from a Bachelors in Accounting to the extent that formal accounting roles do.

Revenue Accountant
Jack Henry
Jun 2015 - Feb 2018
Revenue Accountant involves the utilization of accounting knowledge related to revenue recognition, directly aligning with what was learned in the accounting degree.

Advanced Revenue Accountant
Jack Henry
Mar 2018 - Apr 2019
As an Advanced Revenue Accountant, this position applies specialized knowledge relevant to revenue reporting and accounting, utilizing skills learned from the Bachelor's program.

Senior Revenue Accountant
Jack Henry
Apr 2019 - Oct 2022
The Senior Revenue Accountant role heavily relies on advanced accounting techniques and regulations, directly corresponding to the foundational knowledge acquired in the Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

Revenue Accountant, Advisory
Jack Henry
Oct 2022 - Present
A Revenue Accountant in an advisory capacity uses accounting principles and expertise that align perfectly with the competencies gained from a Bachelor's in Accounting.

ABOUT

I am an experienced Certified Management Accountant for Jack Henry and Associates, currently working as a Revenue Accountant, Advisory. My team works to ensure revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 606 for software contracts utilizing RevPro software, for which I am considered a subject matter expert. I also have experience in external reporting, specifically filing 10-Q & 10-K reports including completing iXBRL tagging. I completed my CMA certification in 2013 and hold a Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from Missouri State University, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2011.

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

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


When looking at the job paths that graduates from Missouri State University with a degree in Accounting have taken, it's clear that many stick closely to roles that are directly relevant to their education. The most common positions include accountancy-focused jobs like Internal Auditors, Tax Accountants, Senior Accountants, and various roles at accounting firms. These positions utilize the skills and principles taught in their degree programs, such as financial analysis, reporting, auditing, and regulatory compliance. Even roles like Financial Reporting Managers or Assistant Controllers heavily rely on the accounting knowledge they gained in college, confirming that a significant number of graduates continue to work within the accounting field.

However, there are also an interesting mix of jobs that aren't tightly knit to traditional accounting roles. For instance, some graduates have ventured into positions like Chief of Staff, Project Coordinators, or even jobs in sales and customer service, which don't effectively tap into their accounting training. While some of these roles may lend themselves to various financial skills, they don’t always pull from core accounting knowledge. Overall, it's evident that while many accounting grads find success in fields directly related to their studies, a fair number diverge into different territories that don't maximize their academic preparation in accounting.

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 Missouri State University):

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

Looking at the career paths of graduates from Missouri State University who majored in Accounting, it seems that many of them have found careers that are closely tied to their degree. Typically, a lot of these folks land their first job in roles such as auditors, tax preparers, or accounting staff right after graduation. For instance, grads from 2011 and 2012 started their careers in audit positions with reputable firms and then progressed into higher-level roles like Financial Reporting Managers or Controllers within just a few years. This progress often indicates a solid foundation built from their education and early job experiences, as many of them have stayed within the accounting or financial sectors.

Fast forward five to ten years later, and you see a pattern of advancement into significant roles like CFOs or senior managers within well-known companies. For example, a graduate from 2011 climbed the ranks all the way to Chief Financial Officer in over a decade. While some graduates have wandered into areas a bit detached from core accounting roles—like the ones who worked in retail or food services—the majority seem to stick with organizations that help them build relevant skills and professional networks. It’s a pretty reassuring trend if you’re considering an accounting degree; it looks like those who work hard and utilize their education tend to achieve success in the field.

How hard is a Accounting degree from Missouri State University?

Getting a Bachelor's degree in Accounting at Missouri State University is definitely a challenge, but it's not impossible. You can expect a pretty solid mix of numbers, theory, and a bit of real-world application, so if you don't love math or analytical thinking, it might feel tougher than average. But if you stay organized and manage your time well, it’s totally manageable. The coursework can get intense, especially when you dive into classes like tax or auditing, but a lot of students find support among classmates and professors. Overall, it's about on par with other business degrees in terms of difficulty, so if you're ready to put in the effort and stay engaged, you can totally ace 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 from Missouri State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at the jobs these Missouri State University accounting grads have landed, it seems like a mixed bag in terms of earnings. A lot of them have climbed the corporate ladder pretty impressively, especially those who graduated earlier on—like the folks who moved from internal auditor roles to CFO or director positions, which usually come with nice paychecks. However, there are also some who took on more entry-level or transitional roles, which likely means they’re not raking in the big bucks just yet. Overall, it seems like if they stayed in accounting and found their groove, many of them are likely making decent money now or have strong potential to do so in the near future!

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 Missouri 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