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

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from California State University, Northridge 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? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 68%, Finance graduates from California State University, Northridge have a slightly higher likelihood (+1%) 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 9% 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:

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

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

Relevance score: 98% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2011 from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor's degree in Finance. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Finance Intern New England Financial Jan 2011 - May 2011 The finance internship at New England Financial directly utilizes financial knowledge and skills developed during the Bachelor's degree in Finance, making it highly relevant. International Peer Advisor Woodbury University Aug 2012 - Dec 2012 The role of International Peer Advisor may involve some financial knowledge in advising international students, but it is not primarily centered on the core qualifications of finance. Burbank Personal Finance Examiner Examiner.com Jun 2013 - Present As a Personal Finance Examiner, this job directly applies financial analysis and advising skills from the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Business Administration (MBA) Woodbury University 2011 - 2012 ABOUT Motivated MBA student with a strong background in Finance. Has strong oral and written communication skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office, and is quick in learning other resource systems. Goal is to secure a position in a stable and well-established organization where I can utilize my educational background, cultivate my natural and acquired skills, and contribute to an organization's overall goals.

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

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

• Futures Trader
• Finance Intern
• Team Member
• Accounts Payable Clerk
• MIS Specialist
• Senior MIS Specialist
• MIS Officer I
• Service Desk Administrator II
• Royalty Clerk (Temporary)
• Lead Manager

When looking at the jobs held by graduates with a Finance degree from California State University, Northridge, it’s clear that a good chunk of them have landed roles that are very much tied to finance. Positions like Financial Analyst, Relationship Banker, and even Futures Trader are pretty common and show a clear application of what they learned in school. These roles involve a lot of financial analysis, working with financial products, and making decisions that require a good grasp of economic principles, which is exactly what a finance degree prepares you for. So, it’s great to see that these graduates are utilizing their knowledge in relevant and impactful ways.

However, not all jobs lined up with their studies as closely as you might expect. Some grads ended up in roles like MIS specialists or management assistants, which, while they might touch on financial concepts, are more focused on IT or administrative tasks. These positions may not utilize their core finance skills to the fullest, making them less relevant. Even some temporary jobs, like being a Royalty Clerk or working at a café, don’t involve finance expertise at all. So, while many grads are in solid finance-related positions, there are definitely a few who ventured off the main path, which is totally normal in today’s job market!

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, Northridge):

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

Looking at the career paths of graduates from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Finance, it's clear that many of them tend to start off their professional journeys in entry-level positions that align reasonably well with their studies. For instance, roles like Relationship Banker and Finance Intern pop up frequently as their first jobs. In the early years after graduation, graduates often land positions as financial analysts or in various accounting-related roles, which gives them valuable experience and expertise in the finance field. It seems like a solid foundation that many build on, especially those who remain in institutions like JPMorgan Chase, where there's a clear trajectory toward higher responsibilities over time.

As for what happens five to ten years post-graduation, there's quite a mix. Some individuals seem to take on managerial or more specialized roles, showing that with a few years of experience, they can level up in their careers. However, there are also grads who appear to drift away from finance-related jobs or take on temporary or unrelated positions, like those working at cafes or in short-term clerical roles. Overall, while many CSUN graduates find themselves in relevant and potentially lucrative careers in finance, a noticeable number seem to struggle with maintaining that direction, suggesting that it’s not a guaranteed upward trajectory for everyone. Still, if you're passionate about finance and ready to hustle, it seems like CSUN can open up some solid opportunities for you!

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at California State University, Northridge, is pretty standard in terms of difficulty—so, it’s not overly easy, but it’s also not impossible. You’ll definitely need to put in the work, especially with quantitative courses like accounting and financial analysis, which can be a bit challenging if you're not super strong in math. It’s one of those majors where you need to stay organized and keep up with assignments and readings to really get the concepts down. If you like numbers and have an interest in how money works, you might find it manageable, but if you're more of a creative type, you might have to push yourself a bit more. Overall, it’s a solid degree that, like any college program, has its ups and downs!

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 Finance.

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

Looking at these finance grads from California State University, Northridge, it seems like they've got a mix of solid starts and some challenges. The 2010 grad’s rise from a Relationship Banker to a Business Relationship Manager at JPMorgan suggests they’re making decent money, considering the progression in a big bank like that. The 2011 grad's roles seem more like side careers rather than big earners, which might not be ideal in the finance world. The 2017 and 2018 grads are doing okay, but their jobs in accounting roles can be hit or miss in terms of salary. The future trader from 2019 could either be cashing in big or risk losing out, depending on how well they play the market. Overall, it looks like most have carved out opportunities, but the big bucks might not be flowing in just yet for some of them!

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, Northridge). 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