What can you do with a Finance degree from California State University-Sacramento?

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from California State University-Sacramento 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 54%, Finance graduates from California State University-Sacramento have a much lower likelihood (-13%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 54%
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-Sacramento and our analysis:


Relevance score: 0%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from California State University-Sacramento with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Inventory Clerk
AmerisourceBergen
Oct 2021 - Present
The position of Inventory Clerk at AmerisourceBergen does not require specialized finance knowledge or skills, making it unrelated to the Bachelor's degree in Business Administration - BBA in Finance.

ABOUT

I've been in the retail industry for four years as a sales associate, however I feel that I've outgrown it and learned the majority of what it offered me. I've become really well at connecting with customers and tailoring my skills to suit their needs. I am now aiming for a course that is more inline with my degree, as well as an occupation that I consider more professional.

What jobs can you get with a Finance degree from California State University-Sacramento?

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


From the job profiles of graduates from California State University-Sacramento who studied Finance, it looks like there's a mix of finance-related positions and some that stray pretty far from the field. A common trend is that many of the earlier jobs, especially those in fund accounting, are highly relevant to finance and make good use of the financial concepts learned during their degree. Roles like Fund Accountant, Senior Analyst, and Financial Consultant definitely keep the finance focus strong, emphasizing analytical skills and financial principles. However, as you move down the list, you start to see positions like Customer Relations Representative or Administrative Assistant, which seem to lean more on general skills rather than specialized finance knowledge. The variety suggests that while some graduates jump straight into finance-heavy roles, others take positions that might not directly apply their degree as much.

Overall, it appears the earlier jobs taken by graduates maintain a strong connection to finance, but many recent positions present a more mixed picture. Some folks are still using their degrees effectively in finance-related roles, like Accounting Technician or Financial Consultant. On the other hand, there are quite a few who end up in roles that are only tangentially related to finance or not related at all, like IT support or customer service. It highlights a reality for finance graduates: while there are awesome finance opportunities out there, the job market can lead you down paths that may or may not connect back to the skills you learned in school.

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-Sacramento):

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

From analyzing the career paths of graduates from California State University-Sacramento who pursued a degree in Finance, it seems like there's a pretty mixed bag outcome-wise. Many graduates tend to find their first jobs in roles that are directly related to finance, such as fund accounting, analyst positions, or similar entry-level financial roles. For example, a grad from 2012 climbed the ladder at State Street, moving from a fund accountant associate to assistant vice president within just over eight years, which shows that hard work and a focus on finance can lead to solid career advancement within the same company. This suggests that if you start off in a finance-related role, there might be potential for good growth in your career if you play your cards right.

On the flip side, some recent grads, especially those from 2019 and 2021, have taken on roles that aren’t strictly related to finance, like customer service or administrative positions. This might indicate that while some people are successfully landing finance-focused careers, others might end up in roles that are more tangential or unrelated to their degree. It’s also important to note that not all paths lead to upward trajectories, as some individuals have transitioned through several different job types quickly - like moving from a producer at an insurance firm to a paraplanner, and then to a tax associate, which may reflect some uncertainty or a need to find a niche. Overall, it looks like there are opportunities in finance for those willing to stick it out, but not everyone is finding that clear cut success right away. The journey can be a bit winding for some of these grads!

How hard is a Finance degree from California State University-Sacramento?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at California State University-Sacramento can be a bit of a mixed bag, but generally, it's about average in terms of difficulty. You'll dive into topics like financial analysis, investment strategies, and economic principles, which can definitely be challenging, especially if you’re not super into math or analytical thinking. However, if you stay organized, keep up with your coursework, and really engage with the material, it’s totally manageable. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but with some effort and a good study routine, you can handle it just fine!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Finance.

Do Finance graduates from California State University-Sacramento tend to make good money?

Looking at these Finance grads from California State University-Sacramento, it seems like the ones who were able to get into more specialized finance roles, like the first graduate who climbed the ranks at State Street, probably made some decent money, especially as they moved into higher positions like Senior Analyst and Assistant Vice President. Those higher-level roles in finance typically pay pretty well, often six figures after a few years. However, others who went into more basic roles or have been stuck in entry-level jobs, like the computer technician or seasonal clerk, might not be raking in the same kind of cash. So overall, there's definitely a mixed bag here—some are likely doing well, while others are still finding their footing in their careers.

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-Sacramento). 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