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

First, some facts. Of the Finance graduates from University of Phoenix 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 25 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 70%, Finance graduates from University of Phoenix 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 32% 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 Phoenix and our analysis:


Relevance score: 25%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Lead Securities Lending Analyst
Fidelity Investments
Sep 2013 - Mar 2016
The role of Lead Securities Lending Analyst does not directly require financial skills focused on securities lending and does not utilize the core qualifications of a finance degree.

Manager - Project/Process Management Officer
Fidelity Investments
Mar 2016 - Nov 2018
The Manager - Project/Process Management Officer position may involve some financial oversight and budgeting but is not primarily focused on finance-specific skills.

Program Manager
Fidelity Investments
Nov 2018 - Dec 2021
As a Program Manager, this role may utilize some finance-related knowledge in budgeting and project evaluation, but it does not require direct financial expertise on a daily basis.

Sr. Program Manager, Talent Acquisition
Fidelity Investments
Jan 2021 - Dec 2021
The position of Sr. Program Manager, Talent Acquisition could involve financial considerations in workforce planning but is largely focused on human resources rather than finance skills.

Director Career Programs
Fidelity Investments
Jan 2022 - Mar 2024
The Director of Career Programs role does not require finance-specific skills or knowledge, as it primarily focuses on career development and educational programming.

Director Enterprise Program Management
Fidelity Investments
Dec 2022 - Present
The Director of Enterprise Program Management does not utilize any specific finance skills but is concerned with project and program management across various disciplines, which does not rely heavily on a finance background.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Business Administration
University of Phoenix
2012 - 2013
ABOUT

I support Fidelitys Talent Development and Learning organization as a member of the Career Programs Team. I have responsibility for the development and execution of our Intern Program Experience for Fidelity's 1000+ summer interns, and the Belong Suite of Inclusion programs which includes early and mid-career programs that are focused on intentionally creating opportunities for top talent across multiple dimensions of diversity.

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

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


After looking through all these profiles, it seems like a mix of finance-related and non-finance jobs pop up for graduates from University of Phoenix with a degree in Finance. Many graduates have landed roles directly in finance, like Financial Analysts or Credit Managers, where they really get to use the skills they learned in school. These positions involve lots of number crunching, budgeting, or advising clients on financial matters. The connection is pretty clear in jobs like Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual or as a Credit Manager, where financial expertise is a must.

However, there are quite a few graduates who have taken on roles that don't utilize their finance degree as much. For instance, jobs in retail management, marketing, or even insurance seem to require just a sprinkle of financial knowledge but often focus more on operational or customer service skills. While these positions may benefit from a business or finance background, they're not primarily finance-related. So, in a nutshell, while many grads are using their finance degree in relevant jobs, there are also a good number who are in roles where that degree doesn’t come into play as much, reflecting a broad range of career paths outside traditional finance roles.

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 Phoenix):

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

When looking at the career trajectories of University of Phoenix graduates with a degree in Finance, it's clear that they have taken varied paths after graduation. Many seem to have landed roles that align with their education, especially early on. For instance, several graduates started as financial analysts, branch managers, or credit managers shortly after completing their degree. These positions suggest a positive start, with many entering fields closely related to Finance, which is a great sign for prospective students looking at this degree. However, there are a few who pivoted towards roles in retail management or customer service, which may not utilize their Finance training as effectively.

Fast forward five or ten years down the road, and we see a mixed bag of outcomes. Some graduates have advanced significantly within the financial services sector, moving up to senior leadership roles like director or vice president at established firms. Others have shifted into operations or project management roles, showcasing an ability to adapt their skills but sometimes straying further from a strict finance focus. On the flip side, a number of individuals are still in roles that don't scream ‘Finance,’ like management support or operations positions in unrelated industries. Overall, while many alumni have progressed into commendable finance-related careers, there is a sizable portion whose paths have diverged from their degree's core focus, which might indicate that the degree's utility can vary widely based on individual choices and market dynamics.

How hard is a Finance degree from University of Phoenix?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, whether at the University of Phoenix or anywhere else, is kind of a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. It’s definitely more challenging than some degrees, especially if you're not great at math or analytical thinking. You’ll have to dive into things like investment strategies, market analysis, and financial modeling, which can feel a bit intense. That said, the University of Phoenix is known for a more flexible and accommodating approach, so if you stay organized and put in the effort, you might find it manageable. Overall, it’s a solid challenge, but with the right mindset and motivation, you can definitely handle it!

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 University of Phoenix tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these Finance graduates from the University of Phoenix, it seems like some of them have landed pretty decent gigs, while others might be struggling a bit. For example, roles like Senior Credit Manager, AVP/Branch Manager, and Controller usually come with solid salaries, indicating that those graduates are likely doing well financially. On the flip side, some folks are still in lower-paying positions like part-time roles at stores or positions that don’t quite capitalize on their degree. So overall, it’s a mixed bag—some are definitely on the right track, while others might not be raking in the big bucks just yet!

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 Phoenix). 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