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Get Matched With Finance Colleges

There are a variety of degrees that students can earn in finance which will pay off in various ways throughout their career. Before you apply to a program, you should make an effort to learn more about these degrees, what you need to do to earn one, and how they can help you get into the finance career you want. When you earn a degree in finance, you’re focusing your scope of study on one subject, but the careers that are available to you are plentiful. Even in times of economic crises, the financial field still offers a wide range of available careers and positions and it is projected to keep growing.

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Top 25 Best Campus Finance Colleges

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1

Stanford University

Score: 94.55

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $62,484
    • Out-of-State: $62,484
  • Net Price: $18,279
  • Acceptance Rate: 4%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 95%
  • Total Enrollment: 18,283
  • Undergrad Students: 8,049
  • Graduate Students: 10,234
  • Grads Salary: $116,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 5:1
  • Stanford University
2

Princeton University

Score: 90.28

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $59,710
    • Out-of-State: $59,710
  • Net Price: $18,698
  • Acceptance Rate: 6%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 97%
  • Total Enrollment: 8,842
  • Undergrad Students: 5,604
  • Graduate Students: 3,238
  • Grads Salary: $103,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 5:1
  • Princeton University
3

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Score: 90.24

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $945
    • Out-of-State: $945
  • Net Price: $4,891
  • Acceptance Rate: 27%
  • Retention Rate: 79%
  • Graduation Rate: 77%
  • Total Enrollment: 943
  • Undergrad Students: 931
  • Graduate Students: 12
  • Grads Salary: $117,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • United States Merchant Marine Academy
4

Yale University

Score: 88.17

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $64,700
    • Out-of-State: $64,700
  • Net Price: $18,647
  • Acceptance Rate: 5%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 98%
  • Total Enrollment: 14,776
  • Undergrad Students: 6,645
  • Graduate Students: 8,131
  • Grads Salary: $96,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 6:1
  • Yale University
5

Harvard University

Score: 87.86

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $59,076
    • Out-of-State: $59,076
  • Net Price: $19,491
  • Acceptance Rate: 3%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 98%
  • Total Enrollment: 30,631
  • Undergrad Students: 9,368
  • Graduate Students: 21,263
  • Grads Salary: $96,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Harvard University
6

Dartmouth College

Score: 87.03

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $65,739
    • Out-of-State: $65,739
  • Net Price: $19,208
  • Acceptance Rate: 6%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 95%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,744
  • Undergrad Students: 4,458
  • Graduate Students: 2,286
  • Grads Salary: $96,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Dartmouth College
7

Johns Hopkins University

Score: 84.57

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $63,340
    • Out-of-State: $63,340
  • Net Price: $24,034
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 94%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,275
  • Undergrad Students: 6,044
  • Graduate Students: 25,231
  • Grads Salary: $94,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 6:1
  • Johns Hopkins University
8

Cornell University

Score: 83.42

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $66,014
    • Out-of-State: $66,014
  • Net Price: $26,060
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 95%
  • Total Enrollment: 25,898
  • Undergrad Students: 15,735
  • Graduate Students: 10,163
  • Grads Salary: $93,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Cornell University
9

Washington and Lee University

Score: 82.69

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $64,525
    • Out-of-State: $64,525
  • Net Price: $24,733
  • Acceptance Rate: 17%
  • Retention Rate: 98%
  • Graduation Rate: 95%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,243
  • Undergrad Students: 1,867
  • Graduate Students: 376
  • Grads Salary: $90,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Washington and Lee University
10

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Score: 82.32

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $17,228
    • Out-of-State: $58,072
  • Net Price: $19,318
  • Acceptance Rate: 18%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 93%
  • Total Enrollment: 51,225
  • Undergrad Students: 32,695
  • Graduate Students: 18,530
  • Grads Salary: $88,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
11

Vanderbilt University

Score: 81.87

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $63,946
    • Out-of-State: $63,946
  • Net Price: $25,606
  • Acceptance Rate: 7%
  • Retention Rate: 96%
  • Graduation Rate: 93%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,710
  • Undergrad Students: 7,151
  • Graduate Students: 6,559
  • Grads Salary: $89,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 7:1
  • Vanderbilt University
12

Claremont McKenna College

Score: 81.12

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $64,150
    • Out-of-State: $64,150
  • Net Price: $28,701
  • Acceptance Rate: 10%
  • Retention Rate: 96%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,389
  • Undergrad Students: 1,386
  • Graduate Students: 3
  • Grads Salary: $92,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • Claremont McKenna College
13

University of California-Irvine

Score: 80.82

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $14,237
    • Out-of-State: $45,014
  • Net Price: $14,033
  • Acceptance Rate: 21%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 87%
  • Total Enrollment: 35,937
  • Undergrad Students: 28,662
  • Graduate Students: 7,275
  • Grads Salary: $88,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of California-Irvine
14

University of Notre Dame

Score: 80.56

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $62,693
    • Out-of-State: $62,693
  • Net Price: $28,474
  • Acceptance Rate: 13%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 96%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,105
  • Undergrad Students: 8,971
  • Graduate Students: 4,134
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • University of Notre Dame
15

University of Florida

Score: 80.02

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,381
    • Out-of-State: $28,659
  • Net Price: $11,740
  • Acceptance Rate: 23%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 90%
  • Total Enrollment: 55,211
  • Undergrad Students: 34,552
  • Graduate Students: 20,659
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • University of Florida
16

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Score: 80.01

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $8,989
    • Out-of-State: $39,330
  • Net Price: $10,614
  • Acceptance Rate: 17%
  • Retention Rate: 96%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,705
  • Undergrad Students: 20,029
  • Graduate Students: 11,676
  • Grads Salary: $77,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
17

University of Washington

Score: 79.27

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $12,643
    • Out-of-State: $41,997
  • Net Price: $10,603
  • Acceptance Rate: 48%
  • Retention Rate: 94%
  • Graduation Rate: 84%
  • Total Enrollment: 52,319
  • Undergrad Students: 36,213
  • Graduate Students: 16,106
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 21:1
  • University of Washington
18

University of California-Santa Barbara

Score: 78.64

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $14,965
    • Out-of-State: $45,742
  • Net Price: $16,874
  • Acceptance Rate: 26%
  • Retention Rate: 92%
  • Graduation Rate: 86%
  • Total Enrollment: 26,420
  • Undergrad Students: 23,459
  • Graduate Students: 2,961
  • Grads Salary: $85,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of California-Santa Barbara
19

Emory University

Score: 78.47

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $60,774
    • Out-of-State: $60,774
  • Net Price: $26,680
  • Acceptance Rate: 11%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 90%
  • Total Enrollment: 14,841
  • Undergrad Students: 7,101
  • Graduate Students: 7,740
  • Grads Salary: $84,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Emory University
20

University of California-Davis

Score: 78.37

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $15,247
    • Out-of-State: $46,024
  • Net Price: $17,385
  • Acceptance Rate: 37%
  • Retention Rate: 92%
  • Graduation Rate: 86%
  • Total Enrollment: 39,679
  • Undergrad Students: 31,532
  • Graduate Students: 8,147
  • Grads Salary: $88,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 21:1
  • University of California-Davis
21

The University of Texas at Austin

Score: 78.19

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,678
    • Out-of-State: $42,778
  • Net Price: $17,434
  • Acceptance Rate: 31%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 88%
  • Total Enrollment: 52,384
  • Undergrad Students: 41,309
  • Graduate Students: 11,075
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • The University of Texas at Austin
22

University of Maryland

Score: 78.11

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,505
    • Out-of-State: $40,306
  • Net Price: $16,210
  • Acceptance Rate: 45%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 89%
  • Total Enrollment: 40,792
  • Undergrad Students: 30,353
  • Graduate Students: 10,439
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Maryland
23

Georgetown University

Score: 78.11

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $65,081
    • Out-of-State: $65,081
  • Net Price: $35,566
  • Acceptance Rate: 12%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 96%
  • Total Enrollment: 20,984
  • Undergrad Students: 7,900
  • Graduate Students: 13,084
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Georgetown University
24

Lehigh University

Score: 78.05

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $62,180
    • Out-of-State: $62,180
  • Net Price: $30,453
  • Acceptance Rate: 37%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,394
  • Undergrad Students: 5,624
  • Graduate Students: 1,770
  • Grads Salary: $91,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Lehigh University
25

New York University

Score: 77.94

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $60,438
    • Out-of-State: $60,438
  • Net Price: $29,499
  • Acceptance Rate: 12%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 87%
  • Total Enrollment: 59,144
  • Undergrad Students: 29,401
  • Graduate Students: 29,743
  • Grads Salary: $87,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • New York University

Types of Finance Degrees

There are different types of finance degrees. The path you choose will depend on your previous educational experiences and what you hope to achieve in your career. This degree gives you a solid foundation in a necessary business function, many careers will be available to you once you earn your degree in finance. You might want to work for a bank, the stock market, the government, or corporations – all of these are options. Having a degree in finance doesn’t limit you to being an accountant, because these skills can translate to leadership opportunities as well, even to executive level positions. If you’re a problem solver who loves to tackle a challenge, finance is the field for you. You’ll have the chance to take risks, invest money, and make split-second decisions as the stock market fluctuates.

Find Your Finance College

Associate in Finance

An associate degree in finance requires between 60 to 65 credit hours, which can be completed in as little as two years of full-time study. Many schools offer online finance classes so you can complete the coursework around your current job’s schedule. When you apply, you’ll submit your high school transcripts. If you’ve already taken some college courses, you’ll send those transcripts as well. If you haven’t attended college, you might have to provide ACT or SAT scores.

Sample Courses:

  • Statistics
  • Microeconomics
  • Business Law Foundations
  • Principles of Management
  • Financial Planning

Bachelor's in Finance

A bachelor’s degree in finance is required for many entry-level jobs and is a great way to get your foot in the door before deciding to continue your education. Most programs require at least 120 credit hours to obtain a bachelor’s degree, which will take around four years to complete. Applying for a bachelor’s degree in finance is similar to applying for an associate degree. You’ll need to submit your previous school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. If you’ve completed an associate degree in finance, you might not have to retake those courses at the four-year college.

Sample Courses:

  • Investment Management
  • Asset Management
  • Corporate Finance
  • Financial Counseling
  • Business Analytics

Master's in Finance

After you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and worked in the field for a few years, you might want to continue your education by earning a master’s. In addition to submitting a transcript that shows you earned a bachelor’s degree, some programs also ask that you take the GRE or GMAT. A master’s degree in finance requires 30 to 36 credit hours and typically takes two years to complete. You may also have the opportunity to narrow your focus and study one specialized area in a master’s program, called a specialization or concentration. Concentrations include international finance, corporate finance, and investment management.

Sample Courses:

  • Fintech
  • Derivatives
  • Risk Management
  • Managerial Finance
  • Capstone Project

Finance Certifications

To further your career without going back to school, you might want to pursue a professional certification. To earn these certifications, you can study on your own or take a certification course before taking a professional exam. Some fields require proof of work experience and require you to adhere to a code of ethics.

Various financial certificates are available, including:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Chartered Investment Counselor (CIC)
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

What Can You Do with a Finance Degree?

After you earn your finance degree, you’ll be prepared to enter the field and secure a high-paying position. Some jobs require certain skill sets or degrees, but even an entry-level job will help you get into the business and work your way up. Here are some options for those who have completed a finance degree.

  • Insurance Agent:
    Starting as an insurance agent will pay an average of over $37,000 a year. You’ll be able to experience many different aspects of the financial field with this job, including working with customers, calculating risks, and predicting financial trends.
  • Financial Planner:
    A financial planner earns over $61,000 a year on average while working with clients to get their financial goals on track. This includes helping them prioritize current spending while investing and saving for the future.
  • Public Accountant:
    Public accounts are paid an average of almost $64,000 annually. In this job, you will work with both individual clients as well as larger corporations to help audit their finances and prepare tax returns.
  • Venture Capitalist:
    Venture capitalists can expect to make over $92,000 a year by helping start-up companies. You’ll work for a larger firm that will evaluate small businesses before investing in them, in the hopes that their stock will pay off in the long run.
  • Investment Banker:
    If you become an investment banker, you’ll have the opportunity to make more than $96,000 annually on average, in return for working in a high-stress job. You’ll sell corporate securities and trade stocks and bonds on behalf of major corporations and individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What’s the difference between accounting and finance?
    Accounting focuses on the daily management of money within a company or organization. Finance covers a broader scope and relates more to managing assets and liabilities while investing and projecting for future growth.
  • How long does it take to get a degree in finance?
    To get a bachelor’s degree in finance, you’ll most likely graduate in four years and be able to start an entry-level job. An associate degree will take only two years, but you won’t have as many career options available to you. Master’s degrees in finance can help you advance your career once you’ve gotten your foot in the door. Finance certificates can also help you increase your earning potential in the career field, though they may not be necessary to succeed.
  • What are the benefits of studying finance?
    Studying finance will not only set you up with many career options in your future, but it will also help you manage your own money as well.
  • What can you do with a finance degree?
    When you earn your finance degree, you can become an accountant, a financial planner, an actuary, an investor, and more. Your financial education can also prepare you for jobs outside of the financial field, like a real estate agent, attorney, or management.

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