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

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from San Jose 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 22 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 78%, Accounting graduates from San Jose State University 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 9% 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 San Jose 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 2019 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Business Operations
Compass Group USA
Oct 2020 - Mar 2021
The role in Business Operations may involve some transferable skills from accounting, but it does not require core accounting knowledge on a daily basis.

Accounts Payable Clerk
Compass Group USA
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022
As an Accounts Payable Clerk, the job directly utilizes the knowledge and skills gained from a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, requiring specific accounting expertise regularly.

Staff Accountant
Nippon Trends Food Service, Inc.
Apr 2022 - Present
The position of Staff Accountant necessitates comprehensive accounting knowledge and skills learned during the Bachelor's program, making it highly relevant to the degree in Accounting.

ABOUT

Open to any opportunities.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from San Jose 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 experiences of graduates from San Jose State University who earned a degree in Accounting, a mixed bag of roles emerges. Many graduates, particularly those from the earlier graduating classes, have taken on jobs like Administrative Assistant, Account Representative, or Compliance Specialist, which aren’t directly tapping into their accounting knowledge. Instead, these roles often focus on administrative tasks or general financial principles without solid accounting duties. This indicates that not all graduates find themselves in positions that maximize their accounting education right away. However, as we move to more recent classes, there’s a clear trend towards more relevant roles like Tax Associates, Assurance Staff, and Accountants that do utilize core accounting skills and principles, showing a potential shift in job placements and opportunities in the field.

Overall, while the earlier job titles hint at a disconnect between their degrees and initial job duties, there’s a notable increase in highly relevant positions for recent graduates. Positions like Tax Associate and Assurance roles that require specific accounting expertise are more common in the newer batches. This suggests that graduates are increasingly finding jobs that closely align with their academic training, hinting at a growing recognition of the importance of accounting skills in the workforce. So, in a nutshell, while not every job taken by earlier graduates was useful for their career paths in accounting, more recent graduates seem to be landing on their feet with roles that really match their degree's skills and knowledge.

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 San Jose State University):

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

Based on the career trajectories of graduates from San Jose State University who studied Accounting, it seems like many of them have started their careers in roles that are relevant to their degree and have gradually moved up in the field. For those who graduated around 2011 to 2015, common first jobs included roles like Administrative Assistant or various accounting support positions, which often serve as stepping stones into more specialized accounting roles. For example, one graduate moved from administrative work to an Account Representative role and later transitioned to more technical positions at Google and Accenture. Many of their peers appear to have settled into positions such as Tax Associate or Financial Accountant, which are more directly aligned with their accounting training and skills.

Looking five to ten years down the line, these graduates have made significant strides in their careers. Many have moved into senior roles, such as Senior Audit Associates or Finance Managers. There are even some who have started their own firms or taken on leadership positions, indicating a successful career trajectory overall. While some have ventured into more niche roles or different sectors altogether, the majority seem to remain in finance, accounting, and related fields, showcasing a strong connection to their educational background. Overall, it looks like these accounting graduates from San Jose State University have generally enjoyed good career progressions, indicating that their degree has led to meaningful and relevant job opportunities.

How hard is a Accounting degree from San Jose State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at San Jose State University, or really anywhere, can be a mix of manageable and challenging. On one hand, if you’re good with numbers and enjoy subjects like math and finance, you might find the coursework pretty straightforward. However, be prepared for some tough times with classes that dive deep into topics like financial reporting and tax law. It’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s definitely doable with the right mindset and study habits. Just make sure to keep up with the assignments, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it! Overall, it’s a solid combination of effort and engagement, so if you’re willing to put in the work, you'll be just fine.

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 San Jose State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths for these Accounting graduates from San Jose State University, it seems like many of them have landed decent positions that are likely paying well, especially as they progress in their careers. For example, the ones who started out in roles at big names like Google and KPMG have opportunities to earn good salaries, and those who moved up to senior positions or managerial roles later on are probably making even more. On the flip side, some recent graduates are still working their way up with positions like tax associates or assurance staff, which are solid starter roles but might not be breaking the bank quite yet. Overall, while the earlier grads are probably doing pretty well financially, the younger ones are just beginning their journeys, so it's a mixed bag!

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 San Jose 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