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

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from Washington 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 69%, Accounting graduates from Washington State University have a slightly higher likelihood (+2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 69%
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 25% 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 Washington State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 96%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from Washington State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA in Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Tax Intern
Gehring & Associates PLLC
Feb 2017 - Apr 2017
The position of Tax Intern does not substantially require the specific skills or knowledge gained from a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, as it primarily involves assisting with administrative tasks rather than core accounting functions.

Intern
Moss Adams
Jun 2017 - Aug 2017
The internship at Moss Adams may involve some relevant accounting knowledge through exposure to professional practices, but it does not fully utilize the core qualifications expected from an accounting degree.

Accounts Payable Associate
Fisher Investments
Oct 2017 - Oct 2018
As an Accounts Payable Associate, the job directly utilizes accounting principles and practices learned in the Bachelor's program, requiring specific skills on a daily basis.

Assurance Staff
Moss Adams
Oct 2018 - Aug 2020
The position of Assurance Staff at Moss Adams requires the application of accounting knowledge and skills developed during the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

Assistant Controller
Waste Connections
Aug 2020 - Apr 2022
As Assistant Controller at Waste Connections, this role directly involves overseeing accounting functions and financial management, utilizing skills learned in the BBA in Accounting.

Regional Financial Analyst
Waste Connections
Apr 2022 - Jun 2023
The Regional Financial Analyst position at Waste Connections involves financial analysis and reporting, requiring a solid foundation in accounting principles from the Bachelors degree.

Senior Accountant
Cowlitz PUD
Jun 2023 - Present
The role of Senior Accountant at Cowlitz PUD relies heavily on accounting knowledge and skills, making it directly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


It's pretty interesting to look at the career paths of people who graduated with an Accounting degree from Washington State University! A lot of graduates seem to find their way into roles that are directly relevant to accounting, especially those who worked at firms like Deloitte, PwC, and CLA. Positions like CPA or Staff Accountant show that these grads often stay closely tied to their education, applying core accounting principles regularly in their jobs, which is awesome. For instance, many became Senior Accountants or sat in management roles within accounting firms where they can flex their financial knowledge daily. However, it’s not all about traditional accounting roles. You’ll notice that some other grads have landed in positions like Project Staff Accountant or Business Data Analyst, which, while they might use some accounting knowledge here and there, don’t heavily rely on it. In fact, there are quite a few examples of graduates working in industries like technology and operations management where their accounting education isn't the main focus anymore. Some even ended up doing stuff completely unrelated, like teaching English! Overall, while there are certainly many who stick to accounting, there’s also a good mix of people branching out into different fields, showing how flexible an accounting degree can be.

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 Washington State University):

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

When you look at the career trajectories of graduates from Washington State University with a degree in Accounting, you can see a pretty solid path for many of them, especially in those early years post-graduation. Graduates typically start their careers in entry-level positions like staff accountants, analysts, or even roles as interns in reputable firms. For instance, many landed jobs at big-name firms like PwC, Deloitte, and various tech companies. This suggests that a lot of them are starting off in careers relevant to their degree right out of the gate, which is definitely a good sign if you're considering studying Accounting. Over time, many have moved into more senior and specialized positions, like managers or directors, indicating strong career growth. It looks like they’re not just bouncing around; they're building on their skills and taking on more responsibility.

Flash forward five to ten years, and it's clear that a chunk of these former students remains in the accounting field or closely related areas, with some even branching out to roles that leverage their analytical skills in different contexts, like data analysis and business operations. While a few did veer off the traditional accounting track into roles that are less directly related, such as human resources and banking, many still secure solid positions that utilize their accounting education. Overall, it seems like a degree in Accounting from Washington State University sets you up for a stable and potentially lucrative career, whether you stay in traditional accounting or decide to pivot into related fields.

How hard is a Accounting degree from Washington State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting can be a bit challenging, but it really depends on your strengths and interests. At Washington State University, like many places, you’ll dive into topics like financial reporting, tax regulations, and auditing, which can get pretty technical. If you’re good with numbers and enjoy solving problems, you might find it more manageable. That said, most students say it requires consistent studying and a solid grasp of concepts, so you’ve got to stay on top of your coursework. Overall, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but with dedication and a bit of motivation, it’s definitely doable. Just be prepared to put in some effort!

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 Washington State University tend to make good money?

Based on the career paths of these Accounting graduates from Washington State University, it looks like most of them are doing fairly well in terms of making decent money. Those who graduated earlier, especially around 2011 and 2012, have climbed the ladder to senior or managerial positions in big firms like UnitedHealth Group, Boeing, and Amazon, which usually come with higher salaries. Graduates from 2014 and onwards show a variety of roles but many are in high-demand sectors like tech and finance, suggesting they're likely earning good pay too. Even recent grads are getting internships at prestigious firms like KPMG, which is a solid starting point. Overall, it seems these folks are on a good track for financial stability, especially in comparison to many other fields!

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 Washington 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