What can you do with a Finance degree from California State University, Chico?

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from California State University, Chico 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 49%, Finance graduates from California State University, Chico have a much lower likelihood (-18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 49%
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 10% 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 Finance graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Finance graduate from California State University, Chico and our analysis:


Relevance score: 75%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from California State University, Chico with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Program Operations Analyst
Santa Barbara Tax Product Group of Green Dot Corporation
Nov 2020 - Apr 2021
The role of Program Operations Analyst involves operational and analytical tasks that may utilize general financial principles, but does not primarily require specific finance skills or knowledge on a daily basis.

Program Data Analyst
Solar Turbines
May 2021 - Apr 2023
The position of Program Data Analyst requires strong analytical and financial skills directly aligned with the knowledge gained from a Bachelor's degree in Finance, making it highly relevant.

Sr Supply Chain Coordinator
Solar Turbines
Mar 2023 - Present
The role of Sr Supply Chain Coordinator at Solar Turbines likely involves some financial analysis related to supply chain management, which can utilize finance skills, but it is not primarily focused on finance as a core qualification.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Finance degree from California State University, Chico?

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


Looking at the jobs that folks with a Finance degree from California State University, Chico have landed, there's a mix between roles that are directly related to finance and those that veer off into different territories. From Financial Advisors to roles at banks, many graduates have indeed snagged positions that heavily rely on their finance education, making those jobs quite relevant. For instance, Financial Advisors and Financial Representatives are among the most common jobs listed, and they require a solid understanding of financial principles and investment strategies, which are definitely skills honed during their studies.

However, not all of the roles are on the money, so to speak. Several graduates have ended up in service-oriented positions—like bartending or managing bars—which don’t really engage their finance background at all. In general, while many graduates have pursued careers that align well with their degree, there's a notable chunk who’ve found themselves in jobs that are either only tangentially related or entirely disconnected from finance. Overall, if you're aiming for a career strictly in finance, it looks like you might be playing it pretty safe by focusing on roles that require that specific expertise, while other paths can lead you away from that track altogether.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Finance graduates (this is across all Finance graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University, Chico):

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

The career trajectories for graduates from California State University, Chico with a degree in Finance show a mix of successes and varied paths. Generally, many graduates land their first jobs in finance-related roles shortly after graduation; for instance, graduates from 2015 and 2018 began their careers as Financial Advisors or Associates, showing a clear connection to their studies. Over time, these individuals have advanced into more senior positions like Program Managers and High Net Worth Representatives, which indicates they are building worthwhile careers in finance that are relevant to their degrees. This trend suggests that for those who stick with the finance sector, there are opportunities for growth and development within the industry.

However, not everyone follows this path. Some graduates, particularly those from the 2016 and 2020 batches, have taken on jobs that seem far from the finance field, such as bartending or working in client services. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing if someone finds fulfillment in those roles, it does hint that some may have struggled to align their careers with their finance degree or chose to pivot into different fields altogether. Overall, while many graduates seem to be successfully carving out good careers in finance, there is also a noticeable number who have taken detours, highlighting that the journey is quite varied for Chico graduates.

How hard is a Finance degree from California State University, Chico?

Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in Finance, whether at California State University, Chico or elsewhere, can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It tends to be more challenging than some other majors because you'll be dealing with a lot of math, economics, and analytical thinking. Courses cover a range of topics, including accounting, investments, and risk management, which can get pretty intense, especially if numbers aren't your thing. That said, if you're motivated and put in the effort, you can totally handle it. So, while it might not be the easiest degree out there, it's definitely doable with the right mindset and study habits!

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 Finance.

Do Finance graduates from California State University, Chico tend to make good money?

Looking at these Finance graduates from California State University, Chico, it seems like some have really found their footing and likely made decent money, while others might still be working their way up. The first grad to land roles at big names like Bank of America and now a strategy role shows a solid progression that usually comes with good pay. In contrast, the bartender and server roles don't typically lead to hefty paychecks, so it’s hard to say they’re bringing in the big bucks, even if they probably enjoyed their time. As for those sticking to finance, many of them have climbed through positions in various financial firms, which generally means better salaries over time. So, it looks like a mixed bag overall—some could be making bank, while others are still searching for that financial sweet spot.

What buzzwords do Finance 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 Finance (this is across all Finance graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University, Chico). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Finance?

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

College Score Count
University of Dayton 94 18
Central Michigan University 90 10
Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst 90 14
Loyola University Maryland 88 13
University of Connecticut 87 10
Seton Hall University 87 11
University of Florida - Warrington College of Business 87 14
Indiana University Bloomington 86 27
California State University-Long Beach 85 10
University of San Diego 85 11
University of Georgia - Terry College of Business 85 36
University of Wisconsin-Madison 84 13
Brigham Young University 84 19
Northeastern University 84 10
The University of Texas at Dallas 84 26
University of Illinois at Chicago 84 13
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 83 17
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 83 17
Indiana University - Kelley School of Business 83 23
Xavier University 83 11
University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business 82 14
Texas A&M University 81 64
San Diego State University 81 22
Bentley University 81 27
Rutgers Business School 81 22
Iowa State University - Ivy College of Business 81 12
University of Arizona 80 11
Miami University 80 39
North Dakota State University 80 16
University of Colorado Colorado Springs 80 11
Wake Forest University 80 10
Fordham Gabelli School of Business 80 12
University of Florida 79 43
University of Delaware 79 28
Western Michigan University 79 11
Saint Joseph's University 79 11
Quinnipiac University - School of Business 79 11
Illinois State University 78 25
Towson University 78 13
Northern Arizona University 78 10
Kansas State University 78 18
University of Notre Dame 78 20
The University of Texas at El Paso 78 10
Florida International University - College of Business 78 18
Temple University - Fox School of Business and Management 78 11
The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business 78 16
Colorado State University 77 13
California State University, Fullerton 77 16
Georgia Southern University 77 14
Northern Kentucky University 77 11
The College of New Jersey 77 15
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business 77 24
University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management 77 12
Penn State University 76 62
Texas Tech University 76 13
University of Missouri-Columbia 76 22
James Madison University 75 22
Georgia State University 75 18
University of Arkansas 75 21
Baruch College 75 50
The Ohio State University 74 27
The University of Texas at Austin 74 14
Temple University 74 21
DePaul University 74 29
Wichita State University 74 15
Michigan State University 73 28
University of North Texas 73 32
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 73 15
University of Pittsburgh 73 14
West Virginia University 73 17
The University of Alabama 73 22
University of Maryland 73 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 73 10
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 73 11
Louisiana Tech University 73 10
Marist College 73 11
Southern New Hampshire University 72 18
George Mason University 72 11
Oakland University 72 18
University of Minnesota Duluth 72 10
Ohio University 71 10
The University of Texas at San Antonio 71 26
Oklahoma State University 71 23
University of Oklahoma 71 13
Florida Gulf Coast University 71 13
Villanova University 71 13
University of Missouri-Kansas City 71 10
University of Phoenix 70 25
The University of Georgia 70 20
University of Iowa 70 19
Kennesaw State University 70 13
Cleveland State University 70 14
Arizona State University 69 25
Louisiana State University 69 26
Rowan University 69 14
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 69 14
Ramapo College of New Jersey 69 10
Fairfield University 69 11
The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business 69 16
Kent State University 68 14
California State University, Northridge 68 11
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 68 25
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 68 13
University of Central Florida 67 56
Florida State University 67 58
University of Washington 67 13
The University of Texas at Arlington 67 30
California State University-Northridge 67 13
Monmouth University 67 10
Arkansas State University 67 10
University of Houston 66 23
Texas State University 66 27
Arizona State University - W. P. Carey School of Business 66 12
Bryant University 66 23
The Ohio State University - The Max M. Fisher College of Business 66 10
Washington State University 65 16
Providence College 65 14
Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business 65 13
University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business 65 12
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 64 18
San Diego State University-California State University 64 15
University of Houston-Downtown 64 27
University of Illinois Chicago 64 10
Liberty University 63 17
Grand Valley State University 63 25
University of Cincinnati 63 11
University of South Florida 62 44
North Carolina State University 62 11
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 62 13
University of Kentucky 62 12
Virginia Tech 62 12
San Francisco State University 61 12
Auburn University 60 27
Metropolitan State University of Denver 60 13
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 60 11
Florida International University 59 39
Oregon State University 59 22
University of Maryland University College 59 13
Iowa State University 58 10
University of St. Thomas 58 10
San Jose State University 57 19
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 57 23
Florida Atlantic University 56 30
California State University, Long Beach 55 11
University of Louisville 55 11
California State University-Sacramento 54 10
University of Tampa 52 13
California State University, Chico 49 10
California State University-Fullerton 46 20