Why This Matters
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30 POPULAR CAREER PATHS AVAILABLE
With a finance degree, you’re never stuck in one role. Your degree prepares you to become an auditor, accountant, adviser, analyst, purchasing manager, or logistician, to name a few of the most popular career paths.
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THE U.S. NEEDS 715,100 MORE FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS BY 2031
Job growth is projected to be 7% through 2031, which means more than a half-million new financial professionals are needed to keep up with demand.
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CERTAIN FINANCE JOBS PAY MORE THAN $90,000 A YEAR
Top-paying finance jobs command a median income of $90,000 or more, which is roughly double the median for all occupations. Some of the highest-paying finance professions are personal financial advisers, management analysts, and financial analysts.
Our Research
This list features some of the best finance degree programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. The programs on our list are available at accredited institutions, including The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), both reputable organizations who assess finance programs for educational excellence and a commitment to quality education.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of finance degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The Top 50 Finance Degree Programs
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What You Should Know About This Degree
A degree in finance prepares you to become a financial analyst, loan officer, personal financial adviser, or accountant, among a variety of other career paths. Finance degrees are distinct from business degrees in their focus on advanced mathematics principles and application.
When researching finance degree programs, look for accreditations from the AACSB, HLC, and MSCHE. Another reputable accreditation may come from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
An accredited finance degree program ensures your courses and subject matter are held to quality standards. This will be important if you choose to gain employment with an established company, transfer credits, or pursue a graduate-level degree.
Certifications aren’t required but are highly recommended. A professional certification immediately proves to clients or potential employers that you have demonstrated competency in a financial specialty. Becoming certified also gives you a competitive edge in the workforce. The most popular certifications are Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, and Financial Risk Manager.
What’s Next?
Ask yourself the following questions when researching a finance degree program:
- Am I eligible for this program? Undergraduate programs that culminate in a bachelor’s degree generally require a minimum high school GPA and a minimum SAT or ACT score for admission. An associate degree is a good way to gain broad finance knowledge if you don’t meet these requirements. Additionally, credits earned at an accredited community or state college might be transferable to a university.
- How long does it take to complete this degree? Most bachelor’s-level finance degrees require 120 credits, or four years of full-time study. It’s important to understand that 45 to 60 credits of the total 120 are general education classes and not specific to finance.
As you search for the best finance degree program, pay attention to important dates, such as application and financial aid deadlines. Ensure you have all components of the application (transcripts, admission essay, and so on) in order before the deadline.
Learn about financial aid options by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and speaking with your prospective school’s financial aid office. New or transfer students might be eligible for program-specific funding that’s available on a first-come, first-serve basis.