What can you do with a Finance degree from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business?

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 65%, Finance graduates from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business have a slightly lower likelihood (-2%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 65%
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 25% 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 Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA in Finance. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Senior Business Analyst
Capital Performance Group
Oct 2023 - Present
As a Senior Business Analyst, this position directly applies financial analysis, data interpretation, and business strategy skills gained from the Bachelor's degree in Finance, making it highly relevant.

ABOUT

I'm currently a Business Analyst at Capital Performance Group, LLC, a leading consulting firm specializing in Strategy, Marketing, Distribution Planning, and Risk Management for financial services companies and organizations. Originally hailing from the vibrant city of Baltimore, MD, I've honed my skills as a Consultant with a strong focus on delivering tailored solutions to financial institutions. My expertise lies in strategic marketing, risk management, and financial analysis.Throughout my career, I've had a unique mix of experiences, including spearheading the creation and execution of compliance risk-management tools banks, conducting extensive research and data mining to develop successful mortgage strategies, and orchestrating comprehensive financial modeling for optimal acquisition targeting and new product implementation. I've also helped create forward-thinking staffing models, market expansion strategies, and product marketing plans.

What jobs can you get with a Finance degree from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business?

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


When looking at the career paths of graduates from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business with a degree in Finance, it's clear that a significant number of them have landed roles that are quite relevant to the finance field. Many of the individuals have taken on positions like analysts, consultants, and associates at well-known firms such as Morgan Stanley, EY, and RBC Capital Markets. For instance, roles like Fixed Income Analyst and Senior Consultant in Financial Services Advisory require strong analytical and financial skills, which align perfectly with their degree. These positions not only leverage the financial principles that they studied but also allow them to dive deep into the financial industry.

However, not every position these graduates have snagged directly relates to finance. For example, some have ended up in roles like Legal Administrative Assistant or in construction, where the connection to finance is minimal or non-existent. Even more surprising, there are instances where positions that seem related, like Client Success Consultant or Client Accounts Assistant, don't quite utilize the core finance skills they learned in school. Overall, while many of these graduates have successfully transitioned into finance-relevant positions, there’s still a noticeable percentage who have ventured into roles that stray from the financial realm, demonstrating a bit of diversity in their career paths.

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 Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business):

What kind of career trajectories do Finance graduates from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

The graduates from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business with degrees in Finance tend to have solid career trajectories that align well with the finance industry. Many of them land their first jobs at major financial institutions like Morgan Stanley or at consulting firms such as EY. For example, some have started off as analysts or support associates, which provides a strong foundation in financial analysis and client management. After gaining experience, many have moved on to higher-level positions, such as senior associates or even execution in roles like vice president or executive director within the same firms. This pattern suggests that the graduates are not only finding relevant first jobs but are also progressing within finance-focused careers as they gain experience.

Looking five to ten years down the line, many of these graduates are taking on more specialized or managerial roles. Some have transitioned into leadership positions, while others have expanded their skill sets by moving into regulatory services, risk advisory, or strategic analysis. There are a few outliers, like those who have ventured into legal roles or entirely different fields such as operations consulting, showing that while most stick closely to finance, some are exploring related areas. Overall, the majority of these graduates seem to be doing well by leveraging their finance degrees, indicating a strong return on investment for their education and setting them up for successful careers in the finance sector.

How hard is a Finance degree from University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business can be pretty challenging, but it’s not like climbing Mount Everest or anything! You’ll definitely need to be comfortable with numbers and have a solid grasp of math concepts since there’s a good amount of financial analysis and quantitative methods involved. The coursework can get intense, especially with classes that dive deep into investment strategies, corporate finance, and economic theory. But if you’re motivated and stay on top of your assignments, it’s definitely manageable. While it might be a bit tougher than some degrees out there, with a good work ethic, you can definitely handle it!

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 Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business tend to make good money?

It definitely looks like a lot of these graduates from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business have landed some pretty solid jobs, especially those who started their careers at big-name firms like Morgan Stanley and EY. The ones who stuck with financial and consulting roles often moved up to higher positions where they probably make decent salaries. For instance, the recent grads interning at companies like Cisco and Morgan Stanley are starting out but are in good places to grow. Overall, it seems like many of these folks are on a solid track to make good money in finance, especially in leadership roles. So, if you’re thinking about majoring in finance, it could definitely pay off!

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 Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business). 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