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

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from University of Iowa 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? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Finance graduates from University of Iowa have a slightly higher likelihood (+3%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 70%
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 26% 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 University of Iowa and our analysis:


Relevance score: 69%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Financial Analyst
HNI Corporation
Sep 2020 - Mar 2022
The role of Financial Analyst at HNI Corporation directly involves financial analysis, reporting, and decision-making skills that are integral to a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.

Contract Specialist
Rock Island Arsenal
Apr 2022 - Present
The Contract Specialist position at Rock Island Arsenal may utilize some financial knowledge in terms of contract evaluation and management but does not primarily require the core qualifications of a finance degree.

ABOUT

Alumni Finance student at the University of Iowa. Love building relationships, hungry to gain knowledge, and dedicated to improving my skills on a daily basis.Currently a Contract Specialist at the Rock Island Arsenal. Email: [EMAIL REMOVED]

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

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 University of Iowa Finance graduates, it's clear that there is a mix of roles that reflect a range of relevance to their finance education. Many graduates have taken positions as financial analysts or managers, especially at firms like Boston Consulting Group and Aegon Asset Management. These roles typically require in-depth financial knowledge, utilizing skills honed during their studies, such as financial modeling and analysis. However, not all graduates ended up in directly finance-related roles; some have taken jobs that stick to peripheral finance responsibilities, like property management or bar tending, which don't fully leverage their degree's potential.

On the whole, graduates with roles like Senior Financial Analyst or Finance Manager are clearly applying their finance training effectively, while others in sales or operational roles may find themselves using finance skills in a more limited way. It's also noteworthy that many of the less finance-centric jobs often demonstrate only partial relevance to the degree, suggesting that while some graduates pursue paths strongly tied to finance, others may veer off into fields where their finance background is less directly applicable. So, while a solid number of alumni find their way into finance-focused roles, there's a fair share who gravitate toward jobs where their finance education doesn’t play a major role, highlighting the versatility and breadth of education at the University of Iowa.

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 Iowa):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from the University of Iowa with a degree in Finance, it's clear that many of them have taken quite promising paths in the financial sector. For a good number of graduates, their first jobs out of college typically align with finance-related positions, such as analysts or financial managers, which can set a strong foundation for their careers. Over the years, many have progressed into higher-level roles such as Finance Senior Manager or Vice President in well-known companies, particularly at firms like Boston Consulting Group and Aegon Asset Management. This indicates a strong trend toward building sustainable and successful careers in finance.

However, it's not universally great across the board. Some graduates have ventured off into jobs that are less directly tied to finance, especially in the early years, like bartending or being a teller. Yet, many have eventually found their way back into finance roles that demonstrate a significant shift towards a solid finance-focused career trajectory. In general, it seems that while some may have faced detours early on, many graduates capitalize on their finance education to secure relevant positions in the long run. If you're thinking about studying finance at Iowa, you're likely on a good path toward a successful career in that field!

How hard is a Finance degree from University of Iowa?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Finance can be a bit of a mixed bag, and it really depends on your strengths and interests. At the University of Iowa, like many schools, you’ll find some pretty challenging courses, especially when it comes to quant-heavy stuff like accounting, investments, and financial analysis. If you enjoy math and analytical thinking, it might feel easier for you, but if numbers aren’t your thing, you might find it a bit tougher. Generally, it’s not considered super easy, but it’s not the hardest degree out there either; it’s more about staying organized and managing your time well. Overall, if you’re interested in finance and willing to put in the effort, you’ll likely find it manageable!

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 University of Iowa tend to make good money?

Okay, so let’s break down what’s happening with these Finance grads from the University of Iowa. It seems like some of the folks who graduated around 2010 are definitely doing well, especially the one who climbed the ladder at Boston Consulting Group—starting as an analyst and now in a senior management position suggests they’re making some solid cash. Others, like the ones who took on more varied roles starting as bartenders or instructors, might not be stacking as much initially, but they’ve found their way into decent positions over time. Newer grads, like those from 2020 and 2023, are just getting started, and it looks like they’re landing interesting roles too, but they'll need to crank it up a notch in the next few years to really see some significant money. Overall, a mix of great trajectories with some slow starts, but it’s all about leveling up 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 University of Iowa). 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