by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 352 degrees and certificates in Investments and Securities. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Investments and Securities 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 Investments and Securities covers Investments And Securities. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Assets Placed In Capital Markets, And Related Technical Operations. Includes Instruction In Security Analysis, Debt And Equity Analysis, Investment Strategies, Securities Markets, Computer-Assisted Research, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Performance Analysis, And Applications To Specific Investment Problems And Business Situations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, investments and securities is a widely-pursued major, with 352 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award investments and securities degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 68.
By level, the 352 awards include 165 bachelor’s degrees and 187 master’s degrees.
Women earned 21% of investments and securities degrees and certificates in the latest year (75 of 352). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (252) and Hispanic or Latino (20), and international students earned 45.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Investments and Securities Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks investments and securities schools within 6 states. In all, 24 colleges offer investments and securities programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Investments and Securities Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common investments and securities credential is the master’s degree: 187 of the 352 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to investments and securities call most for Active Listening, Critical Thinking and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Economics and Accounting and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an investments and securities degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 165 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 187 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to investments and securities, at 48.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.8% |
| Master’s degree | 6.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Investments and Securities, with an average median salary of $85,138; the strongest outlook belongs to Business Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Bank and Savings Securities Trader, Investment Officer, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Investment Banker.
The occupation related to investments and securities with the most projected jobs is Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents, at 1,156,027.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 1,156,027 | 9.2% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 76,931 | 6.8% |
Investments and Securities 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 investments and securities is Financial Risk Specialists, with a median salary of $127,364.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $82,666 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $49,944 |
Investments and Securities has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 60,070 degrees a year; the largest are Finance, General (53,828), Financial Planning and Services (4,834) and Banking and Financial Support Services (1,044). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Finance, General | 53,828 |
| Financial Planning and Services | 4,834 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 1,044 |
| 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.
