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

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from San Diego State University-California 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 15 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 64%, Finance graduates from San Diego State University-California State University have a slightly lower likelihood (-3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 64%
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 6% 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 San Diego State University-California State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2011 from San Diego State University-California State University with a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Finance. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Client Service Associate
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Jun 2011 - Nov 2012
The role of Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management requires strong financial knowledge and interpersonal skills, directly utilizing the finance expertise gained from the Bachelor's degree.

Financial Consultant
Wells Fargo Advisors
Nov 2012 - Present
As a Financial Consultant at Wells Fargo Advisors, the position heavily relies on financial principles and practices, making it directly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Finance.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science
San Diego State University-California State University
2013 - 2019
ABOUT

As a Financial Consultant with Wells Fargo Advisors, I am passionate about helping individuals and businesses succeed financially. My mission is to look at the big picture and provide comprehensive and intelligent financial advice. This information is intended for use by residents of AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI only.CA Insurance License #0I51877/*********/Investment and Insurance Products are:* Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency* Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate* Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount InvestedWells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. Opinions and comments do not necessarily represent the views of our firm. Additional guidelines can be found on wfa.com/social

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

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


Based on the analysis of various LinkedIn profiles of individuals who graduated with a Finance degree from San Diego State University, it seems that a lot of them have ended up in jobs that are closely related to Finance. Common roles include Financial Consultants, Analysts, and Advisers, which clearly rely on financial knowledge and principles. For instance, jobs like Senior Accredited Appraiser and Director of Valuations directly utilize valuation and financial analysis skills. Many folks worked in financial services or advisory roles, like at Morgan Stanley or Wells Fargo, where they used their finance education every day to help clients make informed decisions.

However, it’s also noticeable that not every job taken by these graduates is tightly linked to finance. Some ended up in roles that required minimal to no finance knowledge, like Warehouse Associates, Graphic Designers, or Recruiters, where their degree might not have mattered much at all. So, while many of their positions were definitely relevant and used the finance skills gained during their studies, a fair number also strayed quite far from the finance path, indicating that a finance degree can sometimes lead to a more diverse range of jobs than you might expect.

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 San Diego State University-California State University):

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

Graduates from San Diego State University with a degree in Finance often embark on strong career trajectories that align well with the finance field. Many of these individuals start their careers in finance-related roles shortly after graduation, with positions at renowned companies like Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and various consulting firms. For example, someone graduating in 2011 began their journey as a Client Service Associate and has climbed to a financial consultant position. This pattern of starting in support roles and eventually moving up is evident across several profiles reviewed.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see a pretty significant evolution for many graduates. A number of them have transitioned into higher-level roles, such as financial advisors, senior analysts, and directors in reputable firms or have gained roles in specialized areas such as valuations and investments. While some graduates have explored other paths or taken on roles outside the typical finance umbrella, like graphic design, the overarching trend suggests that a solid percentage remain within the finance sector and see their careers flourish. Overall, it appears that a degree in Finance from SDSU provides a solid foundation for a successful career in various finance-related roles, although the journey can diverge for some into other fields along the way.

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at San Diego State University (or most places, really) can be a bit of a mixed bag. It’s not usually the hardest degree out there, but it definitely has its challenges, especially when you dive into topics like financial modeling, investments, and statistics. You’ll need to be comfortable with numbers, so if math isn’t your thing, you might find it a bit tough. The workload can ramp up with projects, exams, and group work, so staying organized and on top of things is key. But if you’re interested in the subject matter and are willing to put in the effort, it’s totally manageable, and a lot of students find it super interesting!

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 San Diego State University-California State University tend to make good money?

Based on the job trajectories of these San Diego State University graduates, it seems like many of them have landed pretty solid roles, especially in finance and business, which typically offer decent salaries. For example, the graduates who have held titles like Senior Associate, Director, or even positions at well-known firms like Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo usually come with good paychecks, reflecting a healthy income over time. However, not all paths show such a strong financial outlook. Some, like the individual who started as a Production Scheduler and has since stayed in roles that don’t seem to climb high on the pay scale, may not be raking it in as much. Overall, while many seem to be doing relatively well, especially those with steady upward mobility in finance, others appear to be still figuring out their best earning potential.

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 San Diego State University-California 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