by our College Data Analytics Team
[Finance Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying finance financial management schools.
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Below are the schools whose finance financial management graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 for finance financial management graduate salaries in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Early-career finance financial management graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $118,286 per year.
Loyola University Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in finance financial management, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the finance financial management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $102,491.
Students chasing top earnings in finance financial management will find them at Illinois Wesleyan University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career finance financial management graduates from Illinois Wesleyan University make a median of around $102,441 per year.
Depaul University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in finance financial management, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the finance financial management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,702.
Students chasing top earnings in finance financial management will find them at City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a public institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College typically earn about $45,261 annually.
Lake Forest College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying finance financial management schools. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. Students who complete the finance financial management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,573.
Elmhurst College earned the #7 position for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Elmhurst College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Finance Financial Management graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of about $85,336 a year early in their careers.
Illinois State University earned the #8 position for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Illinois State University typically earn about $86,558 annually.
Benedictine University came in at #9 for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Benedictine University typically earn about $88,903 annually.
Bradley University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying finance financial management schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Finance Financial Management graduates of Bradley University earn a median of about $81,681 a year early in their careers.
Northern Illinois University landed the #11 spot for finance financial management salaries this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Finance Financial Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of about $79,501 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying finance financial management schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the finance financial management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,935.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for finance financial management. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago typically earn about $77,460 annually.
North Central College landed the #14 spot for finance financial management salaries this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career finance financial management graduates from North Central College make a median of around $83,703 per year.
Lewis University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for finance financial management. Lewis University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Lewis University typically earn about $75,797 annually.
Roosevelt University came in at #16 for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Roosevelt University typically earn about $75,948 annually.
Saint Xavier University came in at #17 for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Saint Xavier University typically earn about $82,266 annually.
Western Illinois University came in at #18 for finance financial management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Finance Financial Management graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of about $59,698 a year early in their careers.
Quincy University landed the #19 spot for finance financial management salaries this year. Quincy University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Quincy. After graduating, finance financial management degree recipients from Quincy University typically earn about $58,899 annually.
Illinois College landed the #20 spot for finance financial management salaries this year. Set in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career finance financial management graduates from Illinois College make a median of around $55,155 per year.
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #21 spot for finance financial management salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. Finance Financial Management graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of about $63,709 a year early in their careers.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for finance financial management. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career finance financial management graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $63,649 per year.
University Of St Francis ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying finance financial management schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career finance financial management graduates from University Of St Francis make a median of around $53,525 per year.
Aurora University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying finance financial management schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution. Finance Financial Management graduates of Aurora University earn a median of about $51,437 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries finance financial management graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 24 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.