by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 36 degrees and certificates in Public Finance. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Public 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.
Studying Public Finance involves the study of Public Finance. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Financial Assets And Budgets Of Public Sector Organizations. Includes Instruction In Public Trusts And Investments; The Laws And Procedures Used To Plan, Prepare And Administer Public Agency Budgets; And The Preparation And Analysis Of Public Budget Projections And Policies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., public finance is a popular field of study, with 36 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award public finance degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 25.
By level, the 36 awards include 20 bachelor’s degrees and 16 master’s degrees.
Women earned 28% of public finance degrees and certificates in the latest year (10 of 36). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Public Finance Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks public finance schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer public finance programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Finance Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public finance credential is the bachelor’s degree: 20 of the 36 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public finance call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of Economics and Accounting, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a public finance degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 20 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 16 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public finance, at 55.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.3% |
| Master’s degree | 20.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Public Finance, with an average median salary of $109,630; the strongest outlook belongs to Investment Fund Managers, at 14.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Equity Research Analyst, Securities Analyst, Bond Analyst and Corporate Securities Research Analyst.
The occupation related to public finance with the most projected jobs is Financial Risk Specialists, at 684,551.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Budget Analysts | 509,913 | -2.6% |
| Treasurers and Controllers | 229,662 | 0.6% |
| Investment Fund Managers | 185,925 | 14.1% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial Managers | 145,690 | 9.0% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 76,931 | 6.8% |
Public 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 public 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 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $82,666 |
| Budget Analysts | $80,859 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Financial Managers | $75,665 |
Public Finance has 8 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 60,386 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 |
| Investments and Securities | 352 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other | 282 |
| International Finance | 34 |
| Credit Management | 6 |
| Financial Risk Management | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
