What can you do with a Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from Virginia Commonwealth 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 61%, Accounting graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University have a lower likelihood (-6%) 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 30% 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 Virginia Commonwealth University?
• What do Accounting graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?
• What are the best colleges for Accounting?

View a random Accounting graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 70% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Accounting Associate Commonwealth Commercial Partners, LLC Jun 2015 - Jan 2016 The role of Accounting Associate involves some relevant skills related to accounting, but it is not as complex or specialized as higher-level financial positions where deeper accountancy knowledge is applied. Financial Analyst Freddie Mac Jan 2016 - Dec 2017 As a Financial Analyst at Freddie Mac, the job directly requires accounting principles and financial analysis skills, which align perfectly with the Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Financial Controller Professional Freddie Mac Dec 2017 - Oct 2019 The position of Financial Controller Professional at Freddie Mac demands extensive use of accounting oversight and financial reporting practices that are rooted in the knowledge gained from the Bachelors degree. Business Analyst ITG - Incentive Technology Group Oct 2019 - Present While the Business Analyst role may require analytical skills that can stem from an accounting background, the core responsibilities may not leverage accounting principles as their primary focus. ABOUT Experienced Financial Controller with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Budgeting, Reporting, Microsoft Excel, Customer Service, and Accounting Principles. Strong finance professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

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

• Staff Accountant
• Assistant Baseball Coach
• Accounts Receivable Specialist
• Cost Analyst
• Property Accountant
• Fulfillment Specialist
• Compliance and Administration Intern
• Assistant Director of Compliance and SAAC Advisor
• Director of Baseball Operations
• Legal Secretary

When looking at the job paths of people who graduated with an Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, it’s clear that there is a mix of direct accounting roles and positions that drift away from accounting principles. Many of the most common roles these graduates have taken on are directly related to accounting fields, such as Staff Accountants, Accounts Receivable Specialists, and financial analysts. These positions typically require daily use of the accounting skills and knowledge gained from their studies, making them highly relevant to their degrees.

On the flip side, several graduates have ended up in roles that, while sometimes tangent to the financial world, aren’t strictly accounting-related. Positions like Compliance Interns, legal secretaries, and even roles in coaching or talent acquisition don’t leverage their accounting education on a day-to-day basis. It seems like overall, while many grads do find their way into accounting-focused jobs, there’s a notable number who veer off into other areas that might not use the full depth of their accounting training, especially in the earlier years post-graduation. So, the short answer? There’s a solid accounting foundation present, but not all paths taken fully utilize that training in every job role.

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 Virginia Commonwealth University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University's Accounting program, it seems like there's a pretty broad mix of outcomes, but many do land in solid accounting-related jobs, especially in the early years after graduation. For many of the 2010 to 2015 grads, their first jobs often started in roles such as accounts receivable or staff accountants. These positions typically give them a solid foundation in the field, which leads to progression into positions with more responsibility, like accounting managers or financial analysts, within five to ten years.

As for the longer-term picture, it appears that networking and experience have helped some of these alumni carve out impressive careers in accounting and finance. Many have moved into significant roles, such as financial controllers, compliance directors, and even higher-level managerial or administrative positions. However, it's noteworthy that not everyone sticks strictly to traditional accounting paths—some have ventured into finance or even teaching roles. So, while many grads are doing well and climbing the accounting ladder, others have diverged into different fields. Overall, it looks like a fair number of these graduates are finding their footing in careers that align well with their degrees.

How hard is a Accounting degree from Virginia Commonwealth University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University, or really anywhere, can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. Generally, accounting is known for being pretty rigorous because it involves a lot of number-crunching, financial concepts, and often some pretty complex regulations. VCU has a solid program, so you can expect a challenging curriculum that requires good time management and a knack for detail. Some people find the foundational classes like financial and managerial accounting to be a bit more manageable, but as you move into more advanced topics like taxation or auditing, things can get intense. So, it’s not necessarily impossible, but be ready to put in some serious effort if you decide to go for 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 Virginia Commonwealth University tend to make good money?

Looking at these grads from Virginia Commonwealth University, it seems like they've had pretty diverse career paths in accounting and finance, with varying levels of success and salary potential. For many of them, especially those who started in roles like accounts receivable specialists or as bank tellers, those first jobs probably didn't pay a ton—definitely below what you'd hope for with an accounting degree. However, as they moved up the ladder, several ended up in solid positions like directors and financial managers, which typically come with decent salaries. The ones working in governmental or large corporate roles, like with the Defense Logistics Agency or financial institutions, likely have decent pay, especially with how they progressed through their careers. So, while some might still be in the entry-level stages, it looks like a lot of them have the potential to earn well as they continue to climb the career ladder.

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 Virginia Commonwealth 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