What can you do with a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University?

First, some facts. Of the Accounting graduates from Western Michigan 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Accounting graduates from Western Michigan University have a higher 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, 36% 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:

• What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University?
• What do Accounting graduates from Western Michigan University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University?
• What are the best colleges for Accounting?

View a random Accounting graduate from Western Michigan University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 72% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2010 from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Office/Business Manager Busschers Stone & Tile, Inc. May 2010 - Dec 2016 As an Office/Business Manager, some business administration skills may be employed, but the position does not heavily rely on specialized knowledge from an accounting degree. Office/Business Manager Busschers Pumping, Inc. May 2010 - Dec 2016 The role of Office/Business Manager involves general business management responsibilities, which can include aspects of accounting, but does not primarily focus on accounting-specific skills. Office/Business Manager Busschers Septic Tank & Excavating Service, Inc. May 2010 - Dec 2016 Similar to the previous jobs, the Office/Business Manager position here also involves business administration tasks that use general skills but does not directly use accounting expertise on a daily basis. Bookkeeper North Holland Reformed Church Jun 2016 - Present As a Bookkeeper at North Holland Reformed Church, the role directly employs accounting skills and knowledge, making the position highly relevant to the degree in accounting. Chief Financial Officer Busschers Septic Tank & Excavating Service, Inc Jan 2017 - Sep 2021 The Chief Financial Officer position involves managing financial operations, which requires and directly applies accounting knowledge and skills, linking it closely to the Bachelor's degree. Chief Operations Officer & Chief Financial Officer Busschers Septic Tank & Excavating Service, Inc Oct 2021 - Present As Chief Operations Officer & Chief Financial Officer, this role demands comprehensive knowledge of both financial management and accounting, making it directly relevant to the degree in accounting. ABOUT No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University?

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

• Accountant
• Office/Business Manager
• Tax Intern
• Extern
• Closing Coordinator
• Accounts Payable Specialist
• Customer Service Supervisor
• Leadership Development Program
• Dealer Credit Analyst
• Team Lead - Customer Service

When looking at the job paths of people who graduated with an Accounting degree from Western Michigan University, it’s pretty clear that many of them have moved into various roles, with a significant number positioned in business management, bookkeeping, and accounting. A lot of graduates found themselves as Office/Business Managers, where they took on general management roles that skim the surface of accounting. While these jobs might cite some skills linked to accounting—like handling budgets—the core responsibilities don't really require a strong grasp of accounting principles. On the flip side, there are also quite a few who dove deep into more traditional accounting roles, like Bookkeeper, Accountant, and Auditor. These positions demand a solid understanding of accounting practices and principles, showing that some grads definitely put their degree to good use!

Overall, it seems like there’s a mixed bag when it comes to relevance. For some, their jobs were a perfect fit for what they studied, especially those working in accounting or financial analysis roles. However, a fair number of graduates ended up in jobs that utilized some skills related to accounting without needing the specialized knowledge gained through their degrees. So, while many of these positions connected to the field of accounting in some way, the direct application of their degree varied quite a bit across different roles. Ultimately, it highlights that an Accounting degree can lead you down various paths, with some graduates fully embracing their accounting expertise and others leveraging only parts of their training in more general business roles.

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 Western Michigan University):

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

From the profiles analyzed, it seems that graduates from Western Michigan University's Accounting program generally end up in solid career paths that are relevant to their degree. Many of them start off in roles that involve bookkeeping or entry-level accounting positions shortly after graduation. For example, some graduates have taken on roles like bookkeepers or accounting specialists in various organizations, which is a natural progression for someone with an Accounting degree. Over time, a good number of these graduates have moved up the ladder into more senior positions like CFOs or auditors, indicating that a lot of them have built strong careers in accounting-related fields.

However, not all graduates stayed strictly within traditional accounting roles. Some have ventured into different areas, such as business development or customer service, and even into managerial positions outside typical accounting jobs. While it's great to see some diversity in career choices, it does suggest that not every graduate found a direct path in accounting. But looking at the broader picture, most graduates seem to have found jobs that leverage their skills in finance and management, leading to career advancement within or adjacent to accounting. Overall, it appears that a degree in Accounting from Western Michigan University sets a solid foundation for a promising career, with many graduates ultimately finding fulfilling roles in or around their field of study.

How hard is a Accounting degree from Western Michigan University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Western Michigan University, like most accounting programs, can be a bit challenging but totally manageable if you keep up with your studies. You’ll dive into topics like financial reporting, tax laws, and auditing, which can be pretty technical. It’s not just numbers, though; you’ll also need to hone your analytical skills and understand real-world applications. Overall, it’s about average in difficulty compared to other business majors, but the workload can swing depending on the semester and the specific classes you choose. So, if you stay organized and don't procrastinate too much, you should be just fine!

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 Western Michigan University tend to make good money?

Looking at these WMU grads, it's kind of a mixed bag when it comes to how much cash they've raked in. The 2010 grad seems to have climbed the ladder to some decent positions like CFO, which usually pays pretty well, while the 2012 grads are in roles that might not be as lucrative—like a Customer Service Supervisor at the USPS, which is more stable but not super high-paying. The 2013 grad has shown some growth, landing a Senior Accountant gig, but it took a couple of stops along the way. The 2014 folks are all over the place too; like the one still a gas station clerk—definitely not ideal if you're looking to make bank! Overall, while some are clearly doing alright, others seem to be stuck in lower-paying roles. It's a reminder that networking and the right job choices can make a huge difference in earning potential!

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 Western Michigan 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