University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights affordable programs in finance.
Beginning college or going back to school can be daunting, especially if you aren’t sure what you want to study. Luckily, there are a variety of choices, including finance, which has ample opportunities in a changing industry. Read on more to find out about the 100 most affordable finance programs in the U.S. These programs can lead to excellent careers in a field that is broad as well as deep. You can earn a low-level degree and get right to work, or you can opt for an advanced degree, a second degree with a different focus, or certifications which will only improve your career moving forward.
Featured Programs
Top 50 Affordable Finance Colleges and Universities
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Score: 94.17
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,156
- Out-of-State:$60,156
- Net Price: $20,232
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 11,858
- Undergrad Students: 4,657
- Graduate Students: 7,201
- Grads Salary: $118,000
- Student-to-faculty: 3:1
Carnegie Mellon University
Score: 84.99
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,829
- Out-of-State:$63,829
- Net Price: $33,499
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 16,002
- Undergrad Students: 7,059
- Graduate Students: 8,943
- Grads Salary: $108,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 83.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
University of Virginia
Score: 80.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,986
- Out-of-State:$58,014
- Net Price: $19,469
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 26,082
- Undergrad Students: 17,444
- Graduate Students: 8,638
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
University of Notre Dame
Score: 79.75
- 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
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 79.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
University of Florida
Score: 79.07
- 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 Washington
Score: 78.19
- 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
Georgetown University
Score: 77.29
- 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
The University of Texas at Austin
Score: 77.2
- 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
Lehigh University
Score: 77.18
- 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
University of Maryland
Score: 77.11
- 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
New York University
Score: 77.1
- 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
Villanova University
Score: 77.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,701
- Out-of-State:$64,701
- Net Price: $34,837
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 10,383
- Undergrad Students: 6,989
- Graduate Students: 3,394
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Score: 76.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,205
- Out-of-State:$40,603
- Net Price: $13,376
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 48,956
- Undergrad Students: 36,306
- Graduate Students: 12,650
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Purdue University
Score: 76.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,992
- Out-of-State:$28,794
- Net Price: $12,576
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 51,528
- Undergrad Students: 38,593
- Graduate Students: 12,935
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Score: 76.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,004
- Out-of-State:$34,501
- Net Price: $14,544
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 56,916
- Undergrad Students: 35,120
- Graduate Students: 21,796
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Boston College
Score: 76.24
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,680
- Out-of-State:$67,680
- Net Price: $30,559
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 15,287
- Undergrad Students: 9,982
- Graduate Students: 5,305
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Northeastern University
Score: 75.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,141
- Out-of-State:$63,141
- Net Price: $35,827
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 30,013
- Undergrad Students: 16,302
- Graduate Students: 13,711
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Wake Forest University
Score: 75.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,758
- Out-of-State:$64,758
- Net Price: $26,197
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 8,963
- Undergrad Students: 5,447
- Graduate Students: 3,516
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Score: 74.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,464
- Out-of-State:$15,414
- Net Price: $4,991
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 19,854
- Undergrad Students: 15,896
- Graduate Students: 3,958
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Florida State University
Score: 73.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,656
- Out-of-State:$18,786
- Net Price: $14,003
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 44,161
- Undergrad Students: 32,936
- Graduate Students: 11,225
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Georgia
Score: 73.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,180
- Out-of-State:$30,220
- Net Price: $17,180
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 40,607
- Undergrad Students: 30,714
- Graduate Students: 9,893
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Ohio State University
Score: 73.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,859
- Out-of-State:$38,365
- Net Price: $19,582
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 60,540
- Undergrad Students: 46,123
- Graduate Students: 14,417
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Brigham Young University
Score: 73.23
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,496
- Out-of-State:$6,496
- Net Price: $13,521
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Total Enrollment: 34,464
- Undergrad Students: 31,411
- Graduate Students: 3,053
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Score: 73.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,488
- Out-of-State:$36,402
- Net Price: $16,018
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 54,955
- Undergrad Students: 39,248
- Graduate Students: 15,707
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Rochester
Score: 72.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,348
- Out-of-State:$64,348
- Net Price: $39,775
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 12,197
- Undergrad Students: 6,767
- Graduate Students: 5,430
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of Delaware
Score: 72.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,080
- Out-of-State:$39,720
- Net Price: $18,044
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 80%
- Total Enrollment: 24,039
- Undergrad Students: 19,482
- Graduate Students: 4,557
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
The Pennsylvania State University
Score: 71.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,234
- Out-of-State:$40,188
- Net Price: $26,747
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 50,028
- Undergrad Students: 41,745
- Graduate Students: 8,283
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Santa Clara University
Score: 71.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,241
- Out-of-State:$59,241
- Net Price: $50,551
- Acceptance Rate: 52%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 9,178
- Undergrad Students: 6,115
- Graduate Students: 3,063
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
University of South Florida
Score: 70.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,410
- Out-of-State:$17,324
- Net Price: $11,004
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 49,600
- Undergrad Students: 38,047
- Graduate Students: 11,553
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Auburn University
Score: 69.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,536
- Out-of-State:$33,944
- Net Price: $25,271
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 31,764
- Undergrad Students: 25,379
- Graduate Students: 6,385
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Trinity University
Score: 69.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $51,352
- Out-of-State:$51,352
- Net Price: $30,038
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,692
- Undergrad Students: 2,512
- Graduate Students: 180
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of Central Florida
Score: 68.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,368
- Out-of-State:$22,467
- Net Price: $13,108
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 68,346
- Undergrad Students: 58,662
- Graduate Students: 9,684
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
Rutgers University-Newark
Score: 68.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,586
- Out-of-State:$35,348
- Net Price: $16,578
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 11,017
- Undergrad Students: 7,511
- Graduate Students: 3,506
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
The University of Texas at Dallas
Score: 68.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,564
- Out-of-State:$40,064
- Net Price: $13,555
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 31,570
- Undergrad Students: 21,617
- Graduate Students: 9,953
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
Saint Peter's University
Score: 67.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,054
- Out-of-State:$41,054
- Net Price: $11,996
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 3,430
- Undergrad Students: 2,071
- Graduate Students: 1,359
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Regis University
Score: 67.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,980
- Out-of-State:$43,980
- Net Price: $26,377
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 4,668
- Undergrad Students: 2,398
- Graduate Students: 2,270
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Score: 67.54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,944
- Out-of-State:$31,360
- Net Price: $12,444
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 8,223
- Undergrad Students: 6,116
- Graduate Students: 2,107
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
CUNY Brooklyn College
Score: 67.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,452
- Out-of-State:$15,402
- Net Price: $5,972
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 14,195
- Undergrad Students: 11,661
- Graduate Students: 2,534
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Florida International University
Score: 67.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State:$18,963
- Net Price: $9,881
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 55,609
- Undergrad Students: 45,688
- Graduate Students: 9,921
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
University of Illinois Chicago
Score: 67.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,338
- Out-of-State:$29,360
- Net Price: $10,384
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 33,747
- Undergrad Students: 21,807
- Graduate Students: 11,940
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Iowa State University
Score: 67.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,497
- Out-of-State:$27,683
- Net Price: $15,310
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 29,969
- Undergrad Students: 25,241
- Graduate Students: 4,728
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Texas A&M International University
Score: 67.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,846
- Out-of-State:$19,382
- Net Price: $5,383
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 8,505
- Undergrad Students: 6,979
- Graduate Students: 1,526
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Score: 67.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,578
- Out-of-State:$20,228
- Net Price: $13,799
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 2,842
- Undergrad Students: 1,982
- Graduate Students: 860
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
North Carolina A&T State University
Score: 66.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,748
- Out-of-State:$20,408
- Net Price: $9,189
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 13,487
- Undergrad Students: 11,833
- Graduate Students: 1,654
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Score: 66.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,214
- Out-of-State:$21,876
- Net Price: $13,951
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 29,551
- Undergrad Students: 23,461
- Graduate Students: 6,090
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
CUNY Queens College
Score: 66.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,538
- Out-of-State:$15,488
- Net Price: $6,434
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 17,001
- Undergrad Students: 14,406
- Graduate Students: 2,595
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Rutgers University-Camden
Score: 66.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,079
- Out-of-State:$35,841
- Net Price: $14,151
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 5,966
- Undergrad Students: 4,185
- Graduate Students: 1,781
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Millikin University
Score: 66.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,670
- Out-of-State:$43,670
- Net Price: $10,492
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 1,807
- Undergrad Students: 1,708
- Graduate Students: 99
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Why Earn a Degree in Finance?
Earning a degree in finance allows flexibility in a demanding career field that calls for analyzing and evaluating current and future outcomes. Positions such as bookkeeping, auditors, and accountants usually require an accounting degree, although double majors in finance may make you more marketable. The finance field also provides higher salaries than those in accounting, such as financial analysts and financial managers. Other finance jobs with high salaries are in banking, insurance, and investments. Overall, the business and financial sector may project to grow 7% thanks to globalization, technological advancements, growing economics, and more regulation and tax complexity.
Are Finance Degrees in High Demand?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountant’s and auditor’s positions are expected to grow by 6% in upcoming years, while financial manager positions may grow 15%, which means that finance skills are likely to be in demand. Financial analyst positions are also expected to grow 5% faster than average, providing a more competitive salary than other business majors.
Today, there is a demand for specialists with a finance degree who can analyze data and help with decision-making, allowing corporations to increase profits and/or reduce expenses. Finance focuses on profit margins and ratios to determine if an investment will be worthwhile for a company or a loss, including the financial analyst occupation.
Financial managers create financial reports, assess investments, and evaluate the long-term financial goals for private individuals, small businesses, or large corporations. While accounting fits into finance and reads the same financial statements, finance degrees analyze the data and provide recommendations.
Other finance degrees and occupations in demand include:
- Personal Financial Advisors: Expected to increase 17%
- Financial Examiners: Expected to increase 21%
- Loan Officers: Expected to grow 1%
What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?
Finance can lead to many different career paths, such as:
- Financial Analyst: These specialists gather data and produce recommendations in the company’s best interest for better profit margins.
- Personal Financial Advisor: Also called a financial planner, those in this position help individuals or investors with decisions by analyzing statistics and other data.
- Management Analyst: This is a more general role that analyzes revenue and expenses to develop solutions and advise organizations.
- Controller: This is a senior-level executive position that oversees all accounting in a company.
- Investor Associate: This position will see you become an apprentice or assistant to an investor, helping them analyze data and produce recommendations.
- Actuary: This is a high-salary position that involves accounting and finance to assess costs and estimations, such as damages.
- Budget Analyst: In this position, you will ensure companies do not go over budget to reduce long-term adverse effects.
- Credit Analyst: A credit analyst will evaluate financing options and instruments and assess if they are risky.
- Lawyer: A finance degree can also help you become a private equity attorney.
- Real Estate: A real estate specialist may invest in residential or commercial property or help businesses make all of their real estate plans and investments.