Key takeaways
- Pursuing a finance degree can lead to many high-paying job opportunities in public and private corporations.
- Through a finance program, you will develop an in-depth understanding of money, how it is measured and managed, and more.
- Aspiring finance professionals can pursue a finance degree at varying levels such as associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate.
- Esteemed colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in finance include Columbia University and Colorado Boulder University.
- Students seeking an online finance degree can explore the Western Governors finance program.
- High-paying finance degree jobs that you can do with a bachelor’s degree include financial analyst, actuary, and budget analyst.
- Over 40% of all job openings in finance are in the business service industry making it the highest employer of finance graduates.
If money management is something you are interested in, then pursuing a finance degree is the ideal choice for you. Finance is defined as the study of money, its management, allocation, budgeting, borrowing, forecasting, lending, investing, and so on. Career opportunities with a finance degree are vast and varied and the skills learned are highly transferable.
This guide will teach you all you need to know about a finance degree, including program coursework, and career outlook for finance degree jobs.
What does a finance degree entail?
A finance degree features a blend of courses in finance, accounting, business, economics, mathematics, statistics, and more. Through the degree, you will gain the technical skills and knowledge needed for a career in finance. The goal of the program is to teach students essential financial principles and theories and their practical applications in the real world.
Finance is the study of money management, so students enrolled in a finance degree must develop a holistic understanding of money, how it is measured, and the factors that affect it. They do so by exploring a diverse range of topics within business, accounting, and economics. Students also explore related topics such as law, psychology, and data analytics.
Available finance degrees you can pursue.
You can either pursue an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in finance at the undergraduate level and a master’s degree or even a PhD in finance at the advanced level.
Associate’s degree in finance
An associate degree lasts two years and focuses on building foundational concepts in the field of finance. With an associate degree in finance, you can either pursue a bachelor’s degree, or jobs such as bookkeeper, accounting clerk, and loan officer.
Bachelor’s degree in finance
A bachelor’s degree in finance lasts four years and features a comprehensive curriculum focused on training future finance professionals for a variety of roles. With a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue job roles such as Financial Analyst, Financial Advisor, Budget Analyst, Actuary, Tax Associate, and more.
Master’s degree in finance
If you want to become eligible for senior or managerial positions, consider pursuing a master’s degree in finance. The higher qualification can broaden your career prospects making you eligible for top-tier positions such as Chief Financial Officer. A master’s program lasts from one to three years.
PhD in finance
A PhD in finance features a research-intensive curriculum and can last from five to seven years. It is ideal for those who want to pursue career opportunities in research or academia. Job opportunities you can explore with a PhD in finance include quantitative research and professorship.
All you need to know about a bachelor’s degree in finance
According to the United Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey, more than 60% of all business and financial occupations require at least a bachelor’s degree. You can either pursue a standalone finance degree or pursue a finance major in a business or other relevant program.
At the bachelor level, here are some types of bachelor finance degrees you can explore:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A) in Finance
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance
The primary difference between a BA and a BS is in the general education course requirements. A BA offers liberal arts and humanities courses and focuses on building professional competencies such as critical thinking, communication, and so on.
The general education courses in a BS program focus on science, mathematics, and other technical courses. Students develop strong analytical, quantitative, and other technical skills. In a BBA and a BSBA, you will take business-oriented courses and learn how to manage a corporation’s finances.
All programs will focus primarily on providing a comprehensive understanding of financial theories and building a range of soft and hard skills that finance professionals require for a successful career.
Program coursework
The program coursework for finance degrees varies by college and program type. Generally, students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in finance must take general education courses, core-specific courses, and their choice of electives. Additionally, they have to complete a capstone project and an internship.
While the exact list of courses available to you will vary by college, here are some courses you can expect to take.
- Financial Institutions and Markets
- Strategic Management
- Security Analysis
- Personal Financial Planning
- Problems in Business Finance
- Introduction to Risk Management and Insurance
- Speculative Markets
- Real Estate Finance
- Money, Banking, and the Economy
Admission requirements
Each college has its own admission criteria and to aid in the application sorting process, they usually set a minimum criteria applicants must meet to secure admission. Even though the exact requirements and admission criteria vary by college, students will need to submit the following for a bachelor’s degree in finance.
- High school transcript
- Minimum GPA requirements
- Letters of recommendation
- Essay of interest
Make your application stand out with your college essay
Say a college’s admission requirements are as follows:
- Minimum high school GPA of 3.0
- 2 letters of recommendation
- College essay
There can be hundreds of aspiring applicants with a GPA of 3.0 and above and letters of recommendation. Your college essay is what will set your application apart from others. Before you start writing, check whether the college you are applying to has laid out any specific guidelines for the essay or not.
Using an AI essay generator can help you give your college essay a unique perspective. You can use such tools to generate ideas or an outline. Where you may be finding it difficult to think outside of the box, an AI generator will not.
Graduation requirements
Overall, students need to complete 120 to 135 credit hours, depending on the college’s graduation requirements. These credit hours are split between the general education, core-specific, and elective course requirements. Additionally, students must complete a capstone project and an internship both of which are for credit.
Moreover, each educational institute has certain additional requirements students must fulfill in order to graduate such as a minimum GPA. Some colleges also lay out certain code of conduct requirements as well. Make sure you check the graduation requirements in detail.
In-demand finance skills in 2024 you can learn in a bachelor’s degree
We operate in a digitally driven economy. The way businesses operate, the way consumers spend money, the channels through which money is being spent are changing. The introduction of cryptocurrencies was one major somewhat recent change within the finance industry.
While traditional money has some sort of backing to it that determines its worth, cryptocurrency does not, and its value is governed by market supply and demand. Finance professionals had to learn how digital currency operates, what factors to consider when investing and managing it, and more.
While the hype around cryptocurrency is dead, its existence highlights the need for continuous learning. Here are 6 finance skills that are in demand in 2024.
Financial Modeling
Financial modeling is the process of calculating the impact of a future investment or financial decision by using the company’s past records as a basis for future projections. It can be used to value a business or create a performance report in comparison to the company’s competitors.
You can use different assumptions and different data sets to create financial models for various scenarios and purposes. Whether a company wants to raise capital, sell the business, enter into a partnership, budget resources, and more. Since data-backed decision-making is becoming more and more important in today’s economy, financial modeling is becoming an in-demand skill.
Data Analysis
In a technology-driven world data sources are plenty. To be able to use relevant tools to analyze the data sets and make informed decisions. In a finance degree, choose electives such as financial analytics or opt for a blended program in finance and data analytics.
Data analytics skills enable professionals to extract valuable insights from large volumes of seemingly unrelated data. Through data analysis, professionals can aid in identifying new trends and profitable opportunities, strategic planning, and streamlining financial operations.
Financial Planning and Reporting
Financial planning is a vast segment that contains budgeting, forecasting, planning, financial modeling, performance tracking, and reporting. It is what helps a company set its strategic direction, assess overall company financial health, and set financial goals.
Sales plans, project plans, marketing plans, annual forecasts, and budgets are just some operational planning initiatives that fall within the scope of financial planning. Financial reporting is the communication of the results of financial planning initiatives to keep internal and external stakeholders informed.
Risk Management
Through risk management, professionals identify risks, assess the extent of risk, determine risk mitigation strategies, and monitor their effectiveness. Strategic risk management protects a company’s reputation, ensures the protection of financial interests, encourages innovation and growth, and enables smart decision-making, especially in finance and project management.
Companies that continuously play safe in a business environment as dynamic as the one we live in today are not likely to grow. Only by prioritizing strategic risk management can companies thrive in today’s economy.
Cashflow Management
Efficient cash flow management is essential for business stability. Finance professionals specializing in cash flow management monitor the cash coming in and going out of a business, forecast future cash flows, identify potential cash flow shortages, and create efficient management strategies to ensure smooth operations. They can also identify time periods that are ideal for investment in a company’s growth.
Taxation
Taxation specialists ensure a company is in compliance with taxation regulations, while simultaneously focusing on minimizing tax liabilities by improving tax efficiency. To do so, they must possess knowledge of tax laws and regulations, be able to identify tax-saving opportunities, be skilled in financial reporting, and be skilled in risk management.
Colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in finance
Here are some US colleges and universities offering a bachelor’s degree in finance. You can explore any from the list or take a deeper look at the highlighted colleges for a finance degree we discuss further in the article.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Northeastern Illinois University | 62.7% | 21% | $12,383 in-state
$22,726 out-of-state |
| Canisius University | 82% | 72.6% | $32,720 |
| Rider University | 84.1% | 67.3% | $38,900 |
| Georgia College & State University | 80% | 63% | $8,998 in-state
$28,178 out-of-state |
| Pace University | 77% | 56.8% | $51,424 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 64% | 60% | $44,360 |
| Thiel College | 70.6% | 53.3% | $36,864 |
| Columbia College | 3.9% | 94.8% | $69,045 |
Columbia University finance degree
Columbia University’s Business School has a Finance Division offering comprehensive education for aspiring finance professionals. Here students benefit from a well-integrated core curriculum and over 100 electives covering all areas of finance. Taught by successful finance professionals, it is one of the best finance programs in the US with a well-integrated network of industry experts ideal for a holistic learning experience.
Here, you will benefit from the ideal combination of theoretical and practical framework. As a student, you will learn not only financial theories but also their practical applications, build a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and the factors that govern them, and how to use the latest data analytics and other tools and technologies.
The Columbia Business School also hosts several conferences, events, and seminars where industry experts discuss the latest developments in the field of finance. Professors and guest lecturers all bring research-backed insights that can help you develop into an industry leader.
Colorado Boulder finance degree
The finance program at Colorado Boulder University is another excellent program for aspiring finance professionals. The faculty boasts expertise in a range of topics in finance from foundational concepts to advanced specialized topics such as mergers, foreign exchange markets, investment and derivative securities, and so on.
The program features expert faculty from different areas of finance such as real estate, business economics, and financial management. Here, students also benefit from full access to the Burridge Center for Finance and the CU Real Estate Center giving students the necessary exposure and the chance to connect with industry professionals.
Can I get a finance degree online?
Pursuing a finance degree online might be a better option for many. Whether you are an employed individual or are seeking flexibility, affordability, and convenience in your academic curriculum, an online finance program is the ideal option for you.
Regardless of where you reside in the world, you can easily attend a distance education program and access high-quality education at some of the top institutions in the world. Moreover, the cost of attending an online program is significantly cheaper than that of a traditional one as students don’t have to factor in transport, accommodation, and other costs.
However, before you enroll in an online program do keep in mind that you will lack technical support and access to on-campus resources. You will also have to arrange power backups, an internet connection, and a personal computer in order to attend lectures. Additionally, you must be self-motivated, and excellent at time management to be able to thrive in a distance learning environment.
Colleges offering a bachelor an online finance degree
If you think an online finance degree is the ideal option for you, here are some colleges you can explore an online program from.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 64% | 44% | $10,130 in-state
$20,820 out-of-state |
| North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University | 56% | 50% | $6,748 in-state
$20,408 out-of-state |
| Northern State University | 78% | 48% | $8,845 in-state
$11.947 out-of-state |
| University of West Alabama | 87% | 33.5% | $10,990 in-state
$20,090 out-of-state |
| Mercy College | 86% | 61% | $22,106 |
Western Governor’s finance degree – highlighted option
Western Governors University offers an online finance degree that takes a competency-based approach to the program. The program has dedicated hours for theoretical learning and another set of hours dedicated to demonstrating skills learned, competencies built, and knowledge gained.
The university is highly accredited and is one of the few to hold an accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. As far as online programs go, Western Governors University’s online Bachelor of Science in Finance is a great option.
Career opportunities with a finance degree + career outlook, salaries, and industry trends.
With a bachelor’s degree in finance, you can take on a variety of job roles in private and public corporations. These can range from bookkeeping roles to financial advisory, banking and investment, and many more.
According to the United Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for all business and finance occupations is bright. BLS predicts over 950,000 job openings each year in the business and finance category. The job growth rate for finance occupations is faster than the national average for all other occupations.
Moreover, the total revenue from the global financial market is set to grow with an annual growth rate of 9.10% from 2022 to 2029 as per Statista. At the end of 2029, the revenue from the global finance market will be valued at USD 2.89 billion. The report also highlights the United States as the highest contributor, indicating that finance professionals are in demand in the country, a claim backed by a hiring trends report by Robert Half.
According to the report, the demand for finance professionals is high as of mid-2024. Moreover, there appears to be an increased sense of job satisfaction among employed finance professionals. Only 35% of employed workers claim to be looking for new jobs as compared to 49% last year. Over 40% of all finance and accounting jobs posted in the first half of 2024 were from the business service industry making it the highest employer of finance professionals in the US.
Finance degree jobs and salaries.
Here are some jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree in finance, with their average salary and projected job outlook.
| Job title | Average salary | Job outlook |
| Personal Finance Advisor | $99,580 | 17% |
| Financial Analyst | $99,890 | 9% |
| Budget Analyst | $84,940 | 4% |
| Accountants | $79,880 | 6% |
| Actuary | $120,000 | 22% |
| Loan Officer | $69,990 | 1% |
| Data analyst | $108,020 | 36% |
Keep in mind the salary figures mentioned above are averages derived by collecting salaries of different individuals employed in various positions at varying levels of seniority at different corporations. The exact salary offered to you will depend on multiple factors such as the size of the company, the position you are applying for, your educational qualifications, and more.
Frequently asked questions about finance degrees
People interested in a finance degree also ask the following questions.
What can you do with a finance degree?
With a finance degree, you can seek various job opportunities in private and public corporations in various capacities. Some specialized career opportunities you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in finance include corporate finance – which is the sector with the most employment opportunities, investment banking, risk management, portfolio management, asset management, real estate financing, and more.
Accounting vs finance degree – which is better?
Accounting and finance may appear to be similar programs but are in fact quite different. A finance degree focuses on using financial statements and other related reports and documents to optimize fiscal management, aid strategic financial planning, and provide insights into financial health and investment opportunities.
An accounting degree on the other hand focuses on the drafting of financial statements. Accounting professionals monitor and report a company’s financial information including its performance, cash flow, financial strength, and more. They also review the file tax returns and prepare budgets, and cash flow statements that finance professionals prepare.
Both programs offering excellent learning takeaways and prepare graduates for successful careers. Your career aspirations are what will determine which is ideal for you.
How to get a finance degree?
To get a finance degree, you must have a high school diploma. You can use the diploma to secure admission to a bachelor’s degree in finance. The general admission requirements for a bachelor’s degree in finance are a high school transcript, letters of recommendation, and a college essay to be submitted with the college application fees and a filled-out college application form.
Once admitted to the program, you need to fulfill the program’s graduation requirements. These vary by college but generally include completion of 120 credit hours. These are usually distributed between general education, core, and elective courses as well as a capstone project and an internship.
Internships are an important part of a finance program so make sure you do multiple internships. You can search for ‘internships finance degree’ to find opportunities close to you. Given that New York City is the finance hub of the United States, there are plenty of opportunities aspiring finance professionals can avail of.
You can search for ‘internships finance degree NYC’ or search for internship opportunities on job hunt platforms such as LinkedIn, Zip Recruiter, and Indeed. Some colleges also offer internship placement programs so make sure to check in with an on-campus career counselor, and college professors to make sure you don’t miss an opportunity.
What jobs can you get with a finance degree?
A finance degree builds a wide range of professional competencies that open doors to many career opportunities. Some finance degree jobs you can explore are financial analyst, financial adviser, budget analyst, accountant, actuary, investment banker, and more. For more information on job outlook and average salaries, refer to our career outlook section above.
Can I do accounting with a finance degree?
Yes, you can pursue accounting with a finance degree. A finance degree features fundamental concepts and financial principles that are also essential for a career in accounting. However, it is important to note that a finance degree does not cover all accounting aspects. If you choose to pursue a career in accounting with a finance degree, there will likely be a skill gap you may have to overcome with additional certifications and courses.
Can you become a CPA with a finance degree?
Yes, you can become a Certified Public Accountant with a finance degree, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. Most states require significant hours of accounting coursework before one can be eligible for a CPA license.
Is a finance degree worth it?
The finance industry is growing and is expected to continue growing over the next decade. Thus, pursuing a finance degree can prove to be a worthy investment. It can lead to many high-paying job opportunities that graduates can explore. Additionally, the high number of job openings for business and finance occupations is what makes pursuing a finance degree worthwhile.
Pursue a finance degree – get access to high-paying in-demand jobs!
A finance degree teaches you a variety of in-demand skills that are highly coveted by employers. The career outlook for finance graduates is bright and there are several job openings graduates can explore such as financial analyst, financial advisor, actuary, accountant, tax associate, and more.
If you want to access high-paying career opportunities, a finance degree is the way to go. Start your college application today with help from college application resources and tools by All Bachelor Degrees.