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First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Finance graduates from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have a higher likelihood (+6%) 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.
Also, after graduating, only 20% 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:
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Relevance score: 58% We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2015 from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor's Degree in Finance. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONGlobal Residuals Trading Analyst BP Jun 2015 - Aug 2016 Tanker Charterer  BP Aug 2016 - Jul 2017 Naphtha Trading Analyst  BP Jul 2017 - Jul 2018 Crude Trader BP Jul 2018 - May 2019 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking at the job experiences of graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Finance, it's clear that there are a variety of career paths they’ve pursued. A lot of folks have landed roles in project management, business analysis, and data analysis, which, while beneficial in many ways, often aren't directly tied to finance. For instance, many have taken on positions like Project Manager or Services Operations Analyst, where the focus seems to drift more toward general business practices rather than core finance principles. Although some roles, like Data Specialist, might involve financial data, they tend to focus more on data management than on applying finance-specific skills.
On the flip side, a decent number of graduates have secured positions that are strongly aligned with their finance educations. Roles like Financial Analyst, Junior Trader, and Acquisitions Manager often reflect a direct connection to the financial concepts learned during their studies. Graduates working as Financial Consultants or in FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) roles are clearly applying the core skills they developed in their programs. Overall, while there’s a solid mix, a significant portion of graduates seem to drift into jobs that don’t fully leverage their finance background. So, while some graduates are definitely living the finance dream in their careers, many are taking paths that, while interesting, don't quite match up with their educational focus.
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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign):
Graduates from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Finance generally have decent career trajectories, particularly in the first few years after graduation. Many of them start in roles that allow them to build relevant skills and gain experience in finance-related fields. Common first jobs include positions like financial analysts, data specialists, and various roles in operations and project management. These initial positions often serve as stepping stones into more specialized areas within finance or operations, and it’s evident that a good number of these graduates end up in solid finance roles within notable companies.
As the years progress, many graduates tend to move into higher-level positions such as senior analysts, project managers, or consultants, which suggests that they are advancing well in their careers. For instance, by five years out, you can find alumni taking on roles like Senior Financial Analyst or Project Manager at reputable firms. Even ten years down the line, graduates often step into senior or management roles, still largely within the finance sector. However, it's worth noting that some individuals venture outside traditional finance roles, exploring career paths related to data analysis and management consulting. Overall, it looks like most have found fulfilling careers that are pretty aligned with their degree in Finance, even if the specific job titles vary widely depending on individual career paths and choices.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is definitely challenging, but it’s not impossible. The coursework will cover a lot of heavy topics like financial markets, investment analysis, and corporate finance, plus you'll have to get comfortable with some math and stats along the way. Compared to other degrees, it can be a bit tougher due to the analytical skills required and the workload, but if you stay organized and keep on top of your studies, it’s manageable. Overall, it’s a solid program that pushes you, but with enough effort, you can totally handle it!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Finance.
So, looking at these finance grads from UIUC, it seems like they’ve generally been able to land some pretty solid jobs over the years, which usually means they’ve been making decent money. Many of them transitioned from entry-level positions to roles like senior analyst or project manager, indicating that they likely saw their salaries rise significantly along the way. For example, the ones in consulting and finance typically start off with a good paycheck, and those who moved up to manager or senior roles are probably doing pretty well financially. The only exception might be the ones who took more unconventional paths or moved into roles that aren't as lucrative, like the freelance or apprentice positions. Overall, it looks like most of these folks are doing alright in the money department!
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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). This may or may not be useful:
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:
