What can you do with a Business Administration-Accounting degree?

First, some facts. Of the Business Administration-Accounting graduates 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 85 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 78%, Business Administration-Accounting graduates 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, 37% 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 Business Administration-Accounting graduate.

See the details:

View a random Business Administration-Accounting graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 46%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Paul Quinn College with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration-Accounting. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Underpayment Analyst
Parallon
May 2015 - Feb 2016
The role of Underpayment Analyst does not require specific accounting skills or knowledge from the Business Administration-Accounting degree, as it is primarily focused on payment analysis rather than accounting principles.

ADVANCED MEDICAL SUPPORT ASST.
U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Aug 2017 - Jan 2021
The position as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs does not utilize specific accounting skills or knowledge, as it deals more with medical administration and support rather than financial matters.

Accounting Technician
DEPATMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Jan 2021 - Aug 2023
As an Accounting Technician at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the job directly applies accounting principles and tasks, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Accounting.

Accountant
DEPATMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Aug 2023 - Present
The Accountant position at the Department of Veterans Affairs requires and heavily relies on the knowledge and skills acquired from a Business Administration-Accounting degree, making it directly applicable.

ABOUT

Dear Hiring Manager,I am writing to apply for the position advertised in theindeed.com. As requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification, my resume and three references are sterling.My abilities to be consistently courteous and helpful, to meet and greet clients in person as well as to handle high volumes of telephone inquiries are a deep part of my experience and personal nature. Im adept at working busy phone systems and efficiently connecting people to the right person or department. I solve problems quickly and professionally with a level head even under pressure. Im fully comfortable with all of the skills you are searching for. Im what youre looking for and it would be an honor to work for your organization because of your professionalism and quality of work you produce.The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include:I've come to respect the quality and integrity of the work that you do.I strive for continued excellenceI provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customersWith aB.S. in Business Administration/Accounting, I have a full understanding of the full life cycle of a software development projectand my resulting portfolio, mirror these qualities. I look forward to hearing from you and exchanging ideas about what I can offerPlease see my resume for additional information on my experience.I can be reached anytime via email at [EMAIL REMOVED] you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this employment opportunity.Sincerely,[NAME REMOVED] D. Williams

What jobs can you get with a Business Administration-Accounting degree?

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


When looking at the job trajectories of individuals who graduated with a degree in Business Administration-Accounting, you can really see the common threads in their careers. A significant number of these professionals have landed roles that are directly related to accounting, tax preparation, and financial management. Jobs like Staff Accountant, Tax Consultant, Accounting Manager, and Audit Associate appear repeatedly, showcasing how many graduates have utilized their educational background to step into roles that require specific accounting knowledge and skills.

However, it’s important to note that not all roles listed are equally relevant to the degree. Many graduates have taken on positions that, while beneficial for building business acumen, do not leverage specific accounting skills. For instance, roles such as Administrative Assistant, Project Closeout Analyst, or even Business Analyst do not require in-depth accounting knowledge on a regular basis, making them less relevant for someone whose expertise lies in accounting principles. This divergence paints a picture of varying paths—some individuals strongly align their careers with their academic foundation, while others may wander into roles that wouldn't necessarily emphasize the skills they honed during their studies.

In conclusion, it seems that although a good number of graduates have managed to secure positions that are highly relevant to Business Administration-Accounting, there is also a significant portion whose positions might only partially utilize their degree. For those seriously considering this education path, it's vital to recognize that while the degree opens doors in accounting and finance, diverse career paths also await that may not fully align with one's specialized learning.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Business Administration-Accounting graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Business Administration-Accounting graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates with a degree in Business Administration-Accounting, there's a pretty interesting pattern that emerges. Most of these individuals kick off their professional journeys with roles that are closely tied to accounting and finance. You’ll find a lot of them starting as tax assistants, staff accountants, or in various intern positions right after graduation. For instance, graduates from schools like California Polytechnic State University and the University of Northern Colorado showed their first jobs as tax assistants or corporate accountants, which makes sense considering their background—it's like they dove straight into the deep end of their field.

Fast forward about five to ten years, and you see a pretty strong trend towards upward mobility in their careers. Many of these graduates transition into more senior roles, such as tax managers, accounting managers, or even directors of accounting. Take the graduate from California State University-San Bernardino, for example; by just five years out of college, they made it to the accounting manager position at the City of Ventura. This upward trajectory is echoed by several others in the dataset, indicating that the accounting and finance fields can provide substantial opportunities for growth and advancement. However, not everyone followed a strictly accounting-focused path. Some graduates found themselves in related fields like business analysis or even consulting, although this was less common.

On the flip side, there are also a handful of alumni who seem to have veered off the traditional accounting path into positions that don't necessarily leverage their degrees fully. For example, one graduate from DeVry University ended up working in sales operations, which may not align closely with their academic training in accounting and business administration. This suggests that while many graduates find success within their field, a portion might struggle to stay directly tied to accounting-related jobs or find themselves in roles that don't utilize their qualifications effectively.

All in all, it looks like most graduates with a Business Administration-Accounting degree tend to land relevant first jobs shortly after graduation and continue to build on that foundation with significant roles in accounting or finance over the years. While there are some outliers who have taken less conventional routes, the general trend indicates a solid and progressive career path for those who stick with it. It's a field that holds promise, especially for those willing to dive into the various specializations and opportunities available in the world of accounting.

How hard is a Business Administration-Accounting degree?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting can be a bit of a mixed bag. Honestly, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but it’s not the hardest either—it tends to be somewhere in the middle. You’ll definitely need to buckle down for those accounting principles and financial reporting classes, which can get pretty intense with all the numbers and regulations. There are also some heavy-duty math and statistics components, plus the coursework may involve lots of projects and teamwork that could be a challenge. If you like structure and have a good head for numbers, you’ll probably find it manageable, but don’t underestimate it—you’ll need to put in some serious effort to 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 Business Administration-Accounting.

Do Business Administration-Accounting graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at the career trajectories of these Accounting graduates, it seems like some have definitely cashed in quite well, while others might not be as financially stable. The grads with a string of roles at reputable firms like Deloitte and PwC tend to show a clear upward career path, which usually translates to better salaries. For example, the graduate from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo seems to have climbed the ranks at Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP, landing a Senior Manager position, which likely comes with a solid paycheck.

On the flip side, some grads have taken on roles that may not offer the same salary potential. Positions like an "Accounting Clerk" or "Junior Accountant" tend not to pay as much, especially when you're just starting out. It's also worth noting that some individuals have remained in educational or less corporate environments, which can offer stability but not necessarily high pay. Overall, while there are clear success stories with these graduates making good money, a few paths might not lead to the financial rewards one might hope for with an accounting degree.

What buzzwords do Business Administration-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 Business Administration-Accounting. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Business Administration-Accounting?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Business Administration-Accounting (ordered by the average relevance score of their Business Administration-Accounting graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count