by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 757 U.S. colleges awarded 53,828 degrees and certificates in Finance. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. College Factual ranks 541 schools in its 2027 Best Finance Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $61,016 one year after completing, rising to $89,140 after four years.
A degree in Finance explores Finance, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Plan, Manage, And Analyze The Financial And Monetary Aspects And Performance Of Business Enterprises, Banking Institutions, Or Other Organizations. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Accounting, Financial Instruments, Capital Planning, Funds Acquisition, Asset And Debt Management, Budgeting, Financial Analysis, And Investments And Portfolio Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, finance is a widely-pursued major, with 53,828 degrees awarded annually. 757 colleges award finance degrees, an average of 71 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 879.
By level, the 53,828 awards include 80 certificates, 205 associate degrees, 49,584 bachelor’s degrees, 3,950 master’s degrees and 9 doctorates.
Women earned 28% of finance degrees and certificates in the latest year (15,045 of 53,828). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (32,489) and Hispanic or Latino (7,205), and international students earned 3,522.
College Factual ranks 541 schools in its 2027 Best Finance Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees, 507 for bachelor’s degrees and 65 for master’s degrees. It also ranks finance schools within 51 states. In all, 757 colleges offer finance programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Finance Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common finance credential is the bachelor’s degree: 49,584 of the 53,828 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to finance call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Economics and Accounting and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a finance degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 80 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 205 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 49,584 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,950 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to finance, at 51.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.4% |
| Master’s degree | 22.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.8% |
| Some college courses | 4.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
18 occupations are related to Finance, with an average median salary of $104,173; the strongest outlook belongs to Investment Fund Managers, at 14.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Bank and Savings Securities Trader, Portfolio Manager, Analyst and Securities Consultant.
The occupation related to finance with the most projected jobs is Appraisers of Personal and Business Property, at 814,640.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | 691,110 | 6.5% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Budget Analysts | 509,913 | -2.6% |
| Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 471,150 | -1.2% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Financial Quantitative Analysts | 337,391 | 10.7% |
Finance graduates earn a median $61,016 one year after completing their program, $89,140 after four years and $89,830 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $61,016 |
| 4 years | $89,140 |
| 5 years | $89,830 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to finance is Treasurers and Controllers, with a median salary of $162,461.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Treasurers and Controllers | $162,461 |
| Investment Fund Managers | $157,819 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial Quantitative Analysts | $126,371 |
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | $96,628 |
Finance has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 6,594 degrees a year; the largest are Financial Planning and Services (4,834), Banking and Financial Support Services (1,044) and Investments and Securities (352). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Financial Planning and Services | 4,834 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 1,044 |
| Investments and Securities | 352 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other | 282 |
| Public Finance | 36 |
| International Finance | 34 |
| Credit Management | 6 |
| Financial Risk Management | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
