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What can you do with a Finance degree from Iowa State University?

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

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 58%, Finance graduates from Iowa State University have a lower likelihood (-9%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 58%
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, 40% 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 Finance graduate.

See the details:

View a random Finance graduate from Iowa State University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 2%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2022 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Under Contract with Wells Fargo
Associate Staffing
Jun 2022 - Jul 2022
While working at Associate Staffing with Wells Fargo may involve some financial understanding, the core qualifications of staffing do not primarily require finance-specific knowledge, making it only somewhat relevant.

Sales Administrator
Hose McCann Communications
Aug 2022 - Present
The role of Sales Administrator at Hose McCann Communications does not utilize finance-specific skills or knowledge, focusing instead on administrative and sales tasks which are not directly related to finance.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Finance degree from Iowa State University?

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

It seems like graduates from Iowa State University's Finance program have landed a mix of jobs across various industries, but not all of them are directly related to finance at all. Many graduates have taken on roles that involve some financial elements, like budgeting or analysis, but those roles often have a broader focus that stretches beyond core finance tasks. For instance, positions like Pharmacy Solution Architect and consulting roles at Oracle don't really dig into finance on a daily basis, letting those finance skills gather dust instead. On the flip side, some graduates have found themselves in positions that are much more aligned with finance. Jobs like Senior Associate in an Investment Banking Division or a Financial Analyst at companies such as IBM prominently feature the skills learned in a Finance program. Similarly, many roles in financial consulting and analyst positions show a strong requirement for financial knowledge and skills. Overall, while some grads are succeeding in more traditional finance roles, a significant number are exploring paths where finance knowledge isn’t as directly applicable or relevant. So, it’s a mixed bag really, with just as many of these grads working outside their field as they are thriving in it!

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 Iowa State University):

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

Looking at the career paths of Finance graduates from Iowa State University, it's clear that many have landed solid positions early on, often within the finance or consulting sectors. For example, graduates from 2011 have steadily climbed the ranks at major corporations like Cerner and Oracle, moving from entry-level roles to senior management positions. Most seem to start their careers in analyst roles or internships, gaining experience and then transitioning into more specialized positions within their companies. Five to ten years down the line, many of these individuals have advanced significantly, often taking on leadership roles that highlight their expertise in finance, consulting, or even legal fields related to finance.

However, it's not all a straightforward hop into high-powered finance jobs. Some graduates have ventured into areas less connected to their degree, like real estate or logistics, which may suggest a bit of a divergence from typical finance careers. While a few have thrived in unconventional paths, others seem to be in more transitional roles, such as customer service or administrative positions that don’t necessarily leverage their finance training. Overall, though many Iowa State Finance graduates find promising career trajectories with relevant positions, there are also stories of those needing to carve out their own paths in related or even unrelated fields. So, if you're thinking about studying finance there, it's a mixed bag of good opportunities and a few detours along the way!

How hard is a Finance degree from Iowa State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance can be a bit challenging, but it’s totally doable if you’re willing to put in the effort. At Iowa State University, you’ll dive into topics like financial analysis, investments, and economic principles, which can get pretty intense, especially if numbers aren’t your strong suit. That said, if you’re organized and keep up with your coursework, you should be fine! It’s not necessarily harder than the average degree, but it does require a good amount of studying and some analytical thinking. Just stay on top of your assignments, maybe find a study group, and you'll likely find a rhythm that works for you!

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 Iowa State University tend to make good money?

So, looking at these finance grads from Iowa State University, it seems like some of them are definitely on paths to making decent money, while others are still figuring things out. The ones who graduated in the early 2010s, like the folks at Cerner and Oracle, have climbed the ladder pretty well, landing senior roles that typically pay pretty well in tech consulting. The grads from 2013 and 2015 also show promising careers, especially the one in M&A and Private Equity—those positions can be pretty lucrative. On the flip side, some of the more recent grads, especially the ones who just graduated in 2022 and 2023, are still in early-entry jobs, which might not pay as much right away. Overall, it looks like a mix of solid earnings and some starting out in roles that may not pay as much initially, but they’re definitely building 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 Iowa State University). 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