What degree is best for a career in finance?
To pursue an entry-level career in finance, an individual typically must possess a bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance or a related field. Professionals who earn an M.B.A. in finance or a similar graduate degree can pursue more advanced careers in finance, insurance, investment and the government.
An MFin or MS in finance are strong options for students who prefer finance-specific courses or careers based on advanced mathematic principles. An MBA in finance provides students with more coursework on business and management principles for flexible careers within the business world.
The skills gained through finance coursework can be universally applied in not only financial services but also business (even life) in general. Finance majors build knowledge related to nearly every operational area of an organization, including accounting, sales and lead generation, human resources, and marketing.
It's probably not going to come as a shock to you that a BA or undergraduate degree is the minimum requirement to get a job in the financial field. But a finance degree isn't the only degree to choose from. There are also degrees in business, accounting, management, and economics.
Finance degree jobs can provide relatively high pay, stability, opportunities for advancement and consistent demand projections. Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments.
Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging.
Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually. The trend is expected to continue going forward too.
Yes, sure you can make around six figures at some of these fortune 500 corporate finance role or be an investment banking analyst making close to $200K a year just a year out of undergrad, but that's not where the real money is made in finance. It's not even close to how much the big players in finance make.
The degree is usually offered as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance, depending on the school.
Engineering is far more rigorous and much more science than art. Things have to work or they break. There are an incredible number of rules and complex math underpinning everything. Sure finance can be hard, but it can also be easy.
Is finance or accounting better?
The field of finance offers more career choices but also less predictability. In some cases, careers in finance might offer higher pay. Careers in accounting can offer more predictable and stable work but less pay in many cases.
Pros and Cons of Finance Jobs
They can include high stress, big responsibility, long working hours, continuing education requirements, and, in some cases, a lack of job security—the finance industry is generally quite cyclical.
Cons of getting a finance degree
Long hours: Many finance jobs require long hours, particularly in investment banking and other high-pressure roles. Stressful work environment: The finance industry can be stressful, particularly during economic uncertainty or market volatility.
California ranks number 3 out of 50 states nationwide for Finance Degree job salaries.
How satisfied are finance students compared to other degrees? Overall, finance students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.1 out of 5. This is low compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees.
A finance degree, on the other hand, is a great starting point for careers in financial services, across business, banking and consultancy sectors. According to US salary data gathered by PayScale, finance careers also have the potential to be slightly more lucrative than most accountancy routes.
- Business. Interested in an easy major with many career options? ...
- Communications. As a communications major, you'll study mass media, public relations, and journalism. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Education. ...
- English. ...
- General Studies. ...
- Health Science. ...
- Liberal Arts.
One thing that's for sure is the high amount of math you will need to study. Finance is a mathematical discipline, so if you aren't as comfortable with math as with other ways of thinking, you may find it more challenging. Additionally, finance also makes use of a vast, highly specific vocabulary.
One thing to consider when choosing to study finance is that much of what you study during your degree program will include a mix of economics and accounting, which is naturally going to require at least some math, so if you absolutely detest math, then this may not be the right degree for you.
- Business. ...
- Healthcare Administration. ...
- Mathematics and Statistics. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Medical Assisting. ...
- Information Technology. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Hospitality.
What degree has the most job opportunities?
- Business Management. Number of projected job openings: 371,500. ...
- Education. Number of projected job openings: 236,600. ...
- Nursing. Number of projected job openings: 194,500. ...
- Software Development. ...
- Computer Science & Information Technology. ...
- Accounting. ...
- Finance. ...
- Marketing.
Jobs that pay $100K a year typically require a bachelor's degree or higher. For example, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), physicians, surgeons, chief executives, lawyers, pharmacists, and dentists in the U.S. all earn more than $100,000 per year, on average.
The five fastest-growing careers are wind turbine service technicians, nurse practitioners, data scientists, statisticians and information security analysts.
Ways You Can Benefit from a New Finance Career at 40
You have more life experience and knowledge that you can apply to your career. You may already have a lot of connections. As long as you're willing to learn, there is no limit to the work you can do.
- Commercial Banker. Salary range: $110,000-$179,000 per year. ...
- Banking Consultant. Salary range: $154,000-$171,500 per year. ...
- Investment Banker. Salary range: $107,500-$123,500 per year. ...
- Banking Services Advisor. ...
- Bank Secrecy Act Officer. ...
- Bank Examiner. ...
- Business Banker. ...
- Merchant Banker.