For finance careers, is Cal Poly or Indiana University better for undergraduate recruiting and alumni connections?

Indiana University usually offers the stronger undergraduate path for finance recruiting and alumni reach, especially if you mean front-office finance roles like investment banking, asset management, and corporate finance at large firms. Cal Poly can absolutely place students into finance jobs, but its network is more regional and its recruiting strength is more tied to the West Coast and to practical business or accounting-oriented paths.

Cal Poly fits better for someone who wants a hands-on, less preprofessional-pressure environment and is comfortable building opportunities more independently. Its learn-by-doing culture is real, and employers in California know the school well. For corporate finance, commercial banking, financial planning, real estate-related business paths, and roles at West Coast companies, Cal Poly can work very well.

The biggest difference is alumni density and finance-specific brand. Indiana’s business alumni network is broader and more organized in traditional finance circles, and students often benefit from that when networking for internships and first jobs. At Cal Poly, the alumni network is loyal, but it is not as deep nationally in finance recruiting in the same way.

So if your question is specifically undergraduate recruiting and alumni connections for finance, Indiana has the clearer edge. Cal Poly is still a solid option, especially for students who want California placement and a practical undergraduate experience, but for the most direct access to finance recruiting as an undergrad, IU is the one I’d lean toward.