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

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from San Jose 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 19 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 57%, Finance graduates from San Jose State University have a lower likelihood (-10%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 57%
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 15% 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 Jose State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 34%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Teller
Wells Fargo
Jan 2018 - Jan 2019
The Teller position at Wells Fargo does not require finance-specific skills or knowledge, as it primarily focuses on routine banking tasks and customer service.

Personal Banker
Wells Fargo
Feb 2019 - Dec 2020
As a Personal Banker at Wells Fargo, the job directly utilizes finance knowledge and skills, requiring a deeper understanding of financial products and services to assist clients effectively.

Career Advisor
Equus Workforce Solutions
Feb 2021 - Oct 2021
The role of Career Advisor at Equus Workforce Solutions may benefit from finance-related concepts, but it primarily focuses on job placement and career counseling rather than finance-specific skills.

Appraiser
Merced County
Oct 2021 - Mar 2022
The Appraiser position at Merced County does not directly utilize finance knowledge, as it focuses on property valuation and real estate market analysis.

5th Grade Teacher
Rocketship Public Schools
Mar 2022 - Present
The 5th Grade Teacher role at Rocketship Public Schools does not require finance knowledge or skills, as it emphasizes education and teaching rather than financial principles.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


Looking at the job history of finance graduates from San Jose State University, it seems like quite a few have landed positions that are pretty relevant to their degree. Many of them have taken on roles like Financial Analysts, Auditors, and Credit Analysts, where they get to flex their finance knowledge regularly. These positions require a solid grasp of financial principles, and it's clear that the skills learned in their finance programs come into play in day-to-day tasks, making these roles well-suited for graduates eager to dive into the finance world.

However, not everyone went the traditional finance route. Some grads found themselves in roles that only tenuously connect to their finance education. Positions like Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Teacher, or Sales Manager really don’t tap into the finance-specific skills they acquired in school. Instead, a lot of these jobs focus more on customer service, human resources, or general management. So while many finance graduates are indeed capitalizing on their education in finance-heavy roles, others seem to be veering off into job territories that don't fully utilize what they learned. It’s a mixed bag for sure, but those sticking close to finance are finding their way nicely in fields that value their expertise!

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 Jose State University):

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

When it comes to graduates from San Jose State University's Finance program, they seem to start their careers in a pretty solid place, often diving right into roles that are related to finance or customer-facing positions in financial institutions. For instance, right after graduation, many of them hold jobs like tellers, auditors, or roles in property management, which give them valuable experience and a foot in the door in the finance world. Some graduates even land internships in well-known companies, which can be a strong launching pad for their career trajectories.

As these graduates progress five to ten years later, many continue to climb the ranks within finance-related sectors. We see individuals moving from entry-level positions to more specialized roles, such as financial analysts, account executives, or even management positions. However, there are a few who veer off the typical finance path, ending up in roles that don’t seem directly related to their degree, like teaching or various customer service jobs. Despite some variability, a good number of these graduates do find opportunities that allow them to utilize the skills they honed during their studies, leading to promising career paths in finance or business-related fields. Overall, it looks like while the path can vary, many San Jose State finance grads do find relevant and successful career trajectories post-graduation.

How hard is a Finance degree from San Jose State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance can be a bit challenging, but it really depends on your interests and strengths. At San Jose State University, the program includes a mix of tough subjects like accounting, economics, and financial analysis, so if you enjoy numbers and problem-solving, you might find it more manageable. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but if you're motivated and put in the effort, it’s totally doable. Just be ready to buckle down for some serious study sessions—some students thrive in this kind of environment, while others might find it tough. Overall, it’s about average in terms of difficulty compared to other business degrees.

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 San Jose State University tend to make good money?

Looking at these finance grads from San Jose State, it seems like the money they've made varies quite a bit. Those working in major companies like Netflix or with roles as financial analysts likely snagged some decent salaries, especially as they moved up in ranks. On the other hand, some recent graduates seem to have taken paths that might not pay as well, like teaching or entry-level roles in retail. Overall, while a few are definitely on the track to making good money, others are still navigating their way up, which often comes with lower pay in the beginning. So it's kind of a mixed bag depending on the choices they made and the industries they chose to enter.

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 Jose 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