Why This Matters

  • $72,250 AVERAGE YEARLY SALARY

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for all business and finance occupations was $30,000 greater than the median annual wage for all occupations in 2020.

  • 5% ANNUAL JOB GROWTH FORECAST

    Opportunities in specialist financial occupations like management analysts and fundraisers are expected to grow at a faster rate of between 11% to 14%.

  • HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT LEVELS IN CA, NY, TX

    California, New York, and Texas are the states with the most opportunities for undergraduates with a bachelor’s in finance, particularly those working as accountants and auditors.

Our Research

We researched accredited colleges offering online bachelor’s degrees in finance to find those that offered the best combination of affordability, program depth, and educational quality. We looked at the number of credits needed to graduate and calculated the cost per credit, giving preference to those that had the lowest cost. We also considered the strengths of each institution, such as research quality, job placement rates, and financial theory.

Accreditation was an important part of our research. Having a degree from an accredited institution provides confirmation that your education and training meets required quality standards. Universities are accredited by six regional accreditation bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education. You can check your school’s accreditation from either of these bodies or through regional accreditation agencies like the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

  • 66 hours to write this article
  • 117 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 210 education programs we compared

The Top 50 Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Finance Programs

Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Finance Programs Badge
01
Intelligent Pick
Dickinson State University
01
Best Public Research Institution
University of Minnesota Crookston
01
Best Job Placement Rate
SUNY Canton
01
Best for CFP/CFA Certification
University of Houston-Downtown
01
Best Focus on Financial Theory
University of Alabama at Birmingham
01
Best in the Upper Midwest
Bemidji State University
01
Best Financial Planning Track
Missouri State University
01
Best Capstone Experience
Thomas Edison State University
01
Best for Critical Thinking Skills
Florida International University
01
Best for Military Students
Metropolitan State University
01
Best for Transfers
Southern New Hampshire University
01
Best Focus on Business Theory
Columbia College
01
Most Affordable
Florida State College at Jacksonville
01
Best in the Southeast
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
01
Best Accounting Focus
Granite State College
01
Best Faculty
University of Massachusetts Amherst
01
Best Public Institution
Old Dominion University
01
Best for Veterans
National University
01
Best Christian Institution
Dallas Baptist University
01
Best Liberal Arts Focus
Columbia Southern University
01
Most Accomplished Faculty
Umass Global
01
Best Leadership Training
Indiana Wesleyan University
01
Best Focus on Analytics
The University of Memphis
01
Best Concentrations
Louisiana State University Shreveport
01
Best Student-Faculty Ratio
Upper Iowa University
01
Best for Working Professionals
University of Maryland Global Campus
01
Best in the South
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
01
Best Catholic Institution
Regis University
01
Most Customizable Program
Northeastern University
01
Best MBA Preparation
Bellevue University
01
Best In-State Tuition Rate
Fort Hays State University
01
Best Career Services Center
Texas A&M University-Commerce
01
Best in New England
New England Institute of Business and Finance
01
Most Flexible Admissions
American Public University
01
Most Career-Focused Program
Baker College
01
Best for International Students
University of the Potomac
01
Best CFM Exam Preparation
Eastern Kentucky University
01
Most Global Focus
West Texas A&M University
01
Best for Career Changers
Arkansas State University, Beebe

What You Should Know About This Degree

You should consider the cost of an online bachelor’s in finance. You can estimate study costs for your online degree by multiplying the cost per credit by the number of credits required. Bear in mind that there’ll be other costs such as textbooks, study materials, and mandatory fees. Most finance undergraduate degrees take four years to complete, although you have some flexibility with the number of courses you take each semester.

Before enrolling, work out how you’re going to pay for your course costs. Can you afford the study fees or do you need a loan? Many students get federal loans from the U.S. Department of Education. These loans do have conditions regarding enrollment that you must maintain, or you will need to start repayments. It’s possible to get a private loan, but those conditions may not be as favorable.

If you’re working while studying, take into account your work hours and commuting time. Make allowance for family time and other obligations, and commit to a minimum number of study hours both daily and weekly. As a rule of thumb, a three-credit course needs between 8 to 10 hours of study per week.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching online bachelor’s in finance programs:

  • Am I eligible for this program? While requirements differ, most bachelor’s degree in finance programs require you to have completed 13 or more high school core classes with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of between 2.0 and 2.5. You have to provide an official high school transcript. You’re also eligible if you have accumulated a specified number of college credits.
  • Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? It depends on the college. With synchronous studies, you attend online lectures via Zoom or similar real-time video conferencing software. Asynchronous studies use pre-recorded lectures and study material, allowing you to study whenever it’s convenient for you.
  • How long does it take to complete an online bachelor’s in finance degree? Bachelor’s in finance degrees normally take four years to complete. Depending on the school, you may be able to take more courses per semester and complete the degree sooner.
  • What tests are required for an online bachelor’s in finance program? Many schools require a satisfactory score on the SAT or ACT tests. Students who are over a certain age may be exempt from this requirement.