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Finance

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Finance majors study how money flows through companies, markets, and people's lives. Core coursework includes corporate finance, investments, financial markets, accounting, statistics, and economics. Many programs include classes in personal financial planning, risk management, real estate, and derivatives.

Hands-on opportunities like student-managed investment funds give you real money to manage as a class project. Internships at banks or asset managers are essentially required for top jobs.

What you'll do after college

Grads work in investment banking, asset management, private equity, hedge funds, corporate finance, commercial banking, financial advising, and fintech. The work mixes financial modeling, client meetings, and a lot of slide decks—often with long hours, especially early in your career.

Pay is among the highest for any undergraduate major, particularly in investment banking and trading. Many grads pursue an MBA later for career advancement.

Famous graduates

  • Ray Dalio — Founder of Bridgewater Associates; B.S. in Finance from LIU Post
  • John Paulson — Billionaire hedge fund manager; B.S. in Finance from NYU

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$80,644
2,252
100–92%
$79,968
4,596
92–85%
$79,911
6,721
85–78%
$83,083
8,918
78–70%
$91,746
9,197
69–50%
$91,792
6,782
49–41%
$99,867
4,400
41–20%
$155,464
2,327
20–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$70,720
1,980
400–1050
$73,819
3,947
1050–1110
$78,212
5,853
1110–1180
$86,823
8,021
1180–1260
$90,808
7,953
1260–1330
$99,165
5,706
1330–1400
$110,518
4,004
1400–1460
$162,872
1,979
1470–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$63,469p10 $97,219p90 Arts Military STEM Non-Research Female-only Business Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–15 Private University 1–30 Oklahoma City University · $91,361 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $54,096 Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $84,915 Milwaukee School of Engineering · $89,841 Lawrence Technological University · $91,926 Texas Woman's University · $69,774 Simmons University · $79,900 Bentley University · $103,425 Bryant University · $93,129 Menlo College · $91,163 Northwood University · $81,298 Nichols College · $74,054 Trinity University · $109,196 Lyon College · $86,284 Hillsdale College · $94,062 Muhlenberg College · $112,883 St. Lawrence University · $79,905 Florida Southern College · $73,063 Oakwood University · $76,996 Wofford College · $78,833 University of the South · $86,896 Austin College · $83,247 Berry College · $79,985 Flagler College · $64,943 Illinois Wesleyan University · $105,680 Providence College · $96,737 Grove City College · $90,538 Lake Forest College · $83,877 Nazareth University · $75,784 Ohio Wesleyan University · $82,783 Adrian College · $68,272 Carthage College · $83,634 Friends University · $72,938 Champlain College · $90,330 Albion College · $79,338 Cornell College · $76,792 Carroll College · $80,330 Dordt University · $79,145 Endicott College · $89,942 Carroll University · $81,508 Drury University · $67,149 Elizabethtown College · $79,636 Buena Vista University · $79,535 Missouri Valley College · $67,416 Ottawa University - Ottawa · $71,719 Piedmont University · $70,142 North Central College · $83,014 Alma College · $72,321 Augustana College (IL) · $83,548 Hastings College · $70,808 Juniata College · $77,923 Bethany College · $67,400 Loras College · $74,309 Wittenberg University · $98,917 Augustana University · $78,572 Taylor University · $94,675 Lipscomb University · $86,223 Albertus Magnus College · $71,398 Calvin University · $77,766 Georgetown College · $65,751 Illinois College · $75,819 Augsburg University · $72,488 Ferrum College · $62,876 Hamline University · $81,210 Manchester University · $66,224 Hood College · $68,168 Susquehanna University · $93,041 Saint Anselm College · $92,134 York College of Pennsylvania · $78,285 Davis & Elkins College · $80,644 Huntington University · $73,055 Ripon College · $74,727 Ursinus College · $78,593 Nebraska Wesleyan University · $79,431 Schreiner University · $70,949 Washington & Jefferson College · $76,586 Linfield University · $85,166 Lenoir-Rhyne University · $71,954 Culver-Stockton College · $68,945 Franklin College · $87,277 Viterbo University · $77,676 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $81,583 Binghamton University · $110,415 Alabama A&M University · $59,761 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $80,494 University of South Florida · $70,818 University of Washington · $96,546 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College · $78,196 Clemson University · $88,065 Delaware State University · $68,651 Florida International University · $70,412 Morgan State University · $65,067 North Carolina A&T State University · $68,547 Southern University and A&M College · $59,922 University of Central Florida · $74,896 University of Maryland, College Park · $109,541 State University of New York at New Paltz · $62,497 Auburn University · $89,201 Salisbury University · $82,607 University of Minnesota - Crookston · $72,244 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $84,995 Ohio State University · $94,836 Alabama State University · $60,559 Ramapo College of New Jersey · $84,516 Texas A&M University - College Station · $105,404 CUNY Brooklyn College · $62,304 CUNY Queens College · $70,443 Fayetteville State University · $59,383 Florida Atlantic University · $62,610 Northern Illinois University · $82,636 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $80,261 University of Houston - Victoria · $68,707 University of West Florida · $60,785 University of Connecticut · $101,309 Virginia Tech · $102,908 University of South Carolina · $93,798 Pennsylvania State University · $110,657 New Mexico State University · $61,132 Tarleton State University · $82,239 CUNY York College · $58,409 Central Connecticut State University · $69,561 Georgia State University · $77,310 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $70,247 University of Pittsburgh · $92,069 Illinois State University · $89,421 University of Massachusetts - Amherst · $95,114 Jackson State University · $72,010 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $83,343 Northeastern Illinois University · $62,972 Arkansas State University · $65,419 Texas Southern University · $61,649 University of Central Missouri · $64,965 Appalachian State University · $94,238 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $102,128 University of Texas Permian Basin · $70,439 Ball State University · $75,133 Central Michigan University · $76,342 Eastern Michigan University · $75,787 Jacksonville State University · $62,396 Kean University · $65,282 Oklahoma State University · $89,997 Rutgers University - New Brunswick · $95,493 James Madison University · $113,651 McNeese State University · $50,988 New Jersey Institute of Technology · $84,689 Texas Tech University · $95,164 University of Alaska - Anchorage · $74,682 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $83,272 Texas State University · $82,204 University of Louisiana at Monroe · $82,720 Eastern Illinois University · $87,094 Louisiana State University · $94,284 University of Alabama · $90,031 College of Charleston · $89,713 Louisiana Tech University · $86,379 Auburn University at Montgomery · $56,700 Cleveland State University · $80,989 East Carolina University · $82,556 George Mason University · $93,519 Georgia Southern University · $72,884 Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $69,745 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $60,689 Missouri State University - Springfield · $81,292 Morehead State University · $59,086 Murray State University · $62,608 Nicholls State University · $65,167 Northeastern State University · $68,212 Northwest Missouri State University · $71,987 Oakland University · $90,501 Ohio University · $92,711 Salem State University · $67,499 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $67,524 Temple University · $81,101 Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi · $79,341 Texas A&M University - Kingsville · $83,032 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $76,786 University of Central Arkansas · $74,488 University of Delaware · $98,475 University of Houston - Clear Lake · $65,802 University of Houston - Downtown · $79,026 University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth · $66,352 University of Memphis · $68,449 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $71,167 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $95,318 University of Southern Indiana · $76,307 University of Southern Maine · $71,425 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $69,236 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $53,380 University of Texas at Arlington · $70,645 University of Texas at Dallas · $81,666 University of Texas at Tyler · $70,848 Virginia Commonwealth University · $76,199 Western Illinois University · $60,759 Westfield State University · $65,333 Wright State University · $76,457 Eastern Connecticut State University · $74,184 Texas A&M University - San Antonio · $65,612 Miami University - Ohio · $103,708 SUNY College at Geneseo · $79,583 Southeastern Oklahoma State University · $85,739 University of Alabama in Huntsville · $94,156 University of Michigan - Flint · $75,735 University of West Alabama · $62,658 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse · $78,949 University of Rhode Island · $85,710 Oregon State University · $77,871 University of Arkansas · $96,969 University of Idaho · $69,679 University of Louisville · $81,303 University of Mississippi · $79,695 University of Tennessee, Martin · $65,542 Washington State University · $82,367 University of Houston · $82,053 University of Illinois Chicago · $76,484 Purdue University Northwest · $66,069 SUNY Brockport · $63,310 Valdosta State University · $65,548 Rowan University · $83,747 Prairie View A&M University · $86,834 Rutgers University - Newark · $91,449 SUNY Old Westbury · $64,100 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $76,358 University of Missouri · $83,715 University of North Florida · $70,955 Winona State University · $82,656 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $80,815 Angelo State University · $63,469 East Tennessee State University · $71,078 Eastern Kentucky University · $67,879 Middle Tennessee State University · $66,635 University of Louisiana at Lafayette · $56,763 Youngstown State University · $66,093 Saginaw Valley State University · $74,990 Coastal Carolina University · $67,386 Columbus State University · $61,732 Rutgers University - Camden · $95,776 Southeast Missouri State University · $101,204 Tennessee Technological University · $66,619 Western Carolina University · $67,179 Kennesaw State University · $75,022 University of Iowa · $93,780 University of West Georgia · $71,997 Lincoln University · $60,291 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $81,412 Portland State University · $76,319 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $62,107 State University of New York at Oswego · $76,987 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $85,559 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $84,981 University of Toledo · $77,018 University of Central Oklahoma · $68,142 University of New Orleans · $57,309 University of North Texas · $78,280 Bowling Green State University · $80,981 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $67,079 Eastern Washington University · $62,672 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $74,375 Kent State University at Kent · $78,395 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania · $71,584 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $60,336 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $64,851 University of North Dakota · $73,250 University of Utah · $97,271 University of Washington - Tacoma · $96,546 Southern Connecticut State University · $67,034 Stephen F. Austin State University · $72,698 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater · $77,357 Western Michigan University · $70,086 William Paterson University of New Jersey · $67,834 University of Nevada, Reno · $77,820 Michigan State University · $98,136 Mississippi State University · $79,946 Wayne State University · $72,208 Boise State University · $78,141 Framingham State University · $58,180 Arkansas Tech University · $68,150 Central Washington University · $72,995 Delta State University · $63,922 Ferris State University · $73,494 Fort Hays State University · $58,743 Indiana State University · $73,856 Iowa State University · $80,661 Lamar University · $74,228 Northern State University · $77,187 Rhode Island College · $72,204 Saint Cloud State University · $70,059 Southern Utah University · $79,919 Stockton University · $72,058 University of Akron · $70,586 University of Arizona · $104,303 University of Cincinnati · $84,814 University of Maine · $67,154 University of South Dakota · $76,069 West Virginia University · $83,714 Western Connecticut State University · $73,451 Western Kentucky University · $73,621 Wichita State University · $67,730 Metropolitan State University · $61,594 Northern Michigan University · $67,810 Michigan Technological University · $88,941 Francis Marion University · $61,842 University of Wisconsin - River Falls · $77,992 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $74,460 Arizona State University · $88,915 Cal State Northridge · $63,822 Georgia College & State University · $82,032 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $62,942 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $71,631 Minot State University · $73,552 Florida Gulf Coast University · $82,459 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $68,036 Radford University · $87,624 Northern Arizona University · $71,998 University of Kentucky · $87,440 University of Montana · $70,682 University of Montevallo · $49,914 University of North Alabama · $69,593 University of North Texas at Dallas · $65,055 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $73,652 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $71,180 Southwest Minnesota State University · $63,689 University of Texas at San Antonio · $71,818 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay · $71,653 Louisiana State University - Shreveport · $68,480 Old Dominion University · $67,301 Southeastern Louisiana University · $82,368 North Dakota State University · $77,185 Pennsylvania State University - Abington · $105,027 Pennsylvania State University - Erie-Behrend College · $110,005 Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg · $106,650 Plymouth State University · $79,855 University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown · $94,255 University of Southern Mississippi · $74,398 University of Kansas · $100,971 Grand Valley State University · $73,957 Utah State University · $86,941 University of Northern Iowa · $79,256 Western Washington University · $70,668 Pennsylvania Western University · $63,157 Pittsburg State University · $72,715 University of South Alabama · $69,536 Idaho State University · $54,720 Kansas State University · $81,222 Midwestern State University · $63,101 University of Texas at El Paso · $55,656 University of Wyoming · $74,435 University of North Georgia · $77,952 Austin Peay State University · $76,257 Sam Houston State University · $76,793 West Texas A&M University · $54,794 Dickinson State University · $83,729 Montana State University · $77,056 Missouri Western State University · $69,923 Harris-Stowe State University · $59,126 Lake Superior State University · $62,371 University of the District of Columbia · $68,608 Utah Valley University · $95,911 Washburn University · $75,961 Weber State University · $83,143 University of Notre Dame · $144,945 Boston College · $126,598 Fairfield University · $113,841 Villanova University · $131,999 Mississippi Christian University · $74,390 Union University · $82,665 Southeastern University · $61,405 Stonehill College · $101,331 Point University · $62,290 Santa Clara University · $113,736 Saint Louis University · $97,685 Southern Methodist University · $131,216 Texas Christian University · $112,306 Loyola Marymount University · $102,544 Belmont Abbey College · $68,621 Loyola University New Orleans · $75,071 Baylor University · $102,931 John Brown University · $90,147 University of San Diego · $95,643 LeTourneau University · $87,770 Ohio Dominican University · $73,256 Walla Walla University · $74,098 Quincy University · $59,464 Oklahoma Baptist University · $76,982 Yeshiva University · $106,235 Charleston Southern University · $67,561 Alvernia University · $72,517 Asbury University · $82,427 Southwestern Adventist University · $76,298 Texas Wesleyan University · $64,775 Howard Payne University · $71,179 Andrews University · $74,405 Creighton University · $103,091 High Point University · $88,213 Spring Arbor University · $70,964 University of Dayton · $91,508 University of San Francisco · $93,769 Anderson University · $78,392 Bellarmine University · $90,744 Cedarville University · $89,987 Harding University · $101,295 Manhattan College · $87,053 Messiah University · $80,443 Concordia University Ann Arbor · $61,335 Mount St. Joseph University · $73,054 Evangel University · $75,896 Midland University · $69,007 Williams Baptist University · $66,118 East Texas Baptist University · $65,266 Faulkner University · $62,732 Franciscan University of Steubenville · $75,746 Merrimack College · $82,406 University of Evansville · $93,963 American University · $98,201 La Sierra University · $62,272 Our Lady of the Lake University · $65,327 Sacred Heart University · $89,443 St. John Fisher University · $87,243 Arcadia University · $71,089 Ashland University · $78,523 Avila University · $73,763 Barry University · $58,630 California Baptist University · $83,584 Concordia University - Saint Paul · $77,919 University of St Francis · $76,972 Brigham Young University · $121,411 Concordia University Wisconsin · $64,887 Ohio Northern University · $79,960 Queens University of Charlotte · $95,644 Seton Hall University · $85,284 Pepperdine University · $95,308 Abilene Christian University · $98,659 Elmhurst University · $84,441 Lewis University · $74,970 St. Thomas University (FL) · $65,948 Lee University · $79,762 Assumption University · $77,360 Concordia College at Moorhead · $89,396 Iona University · $80,901 John Carroll University · $86,086 La Roche University · $68,434 Newman University · $76,099 Niagara University · $71,920 Regis College · $81,501 Saint Peter's University · $81,591 St. Ambrose University · $76,502 St. Thomas Aquinas College · $67,120 Le Moyne College · $76,903 Marian University · $68,729 Saint Francis University · $91,076 Saint Vincent College · $80,928 Salve Regina University · $84,968 Emmanuel College · $81,981 College of St. Scholastica · $68,832 Ouachita Baptist University · $67,562 Southern Adventist University · $70,575 Colorado Christian University · $67,366 Mercer University · $68,611 Millikin University · $77,159 University of Tulsa · $93,241 Waynesburg University · $79,470 Loyola University Chicago · $101,282 Baldwin Wallace University · $80,979 Dominican University New York · $80,527 Trinity Christian College · $69,704 University of Jamestown · $73,367 Gordon College · $88,971 Touro University · $57,298 DeSales University · $72,397 Marquette University · $105,629 McMurry University · $69,927 St. Bonaventure University · $76,113 University of Indianapolis · $89,632 Malone University · $68,227 Carson-Newman University · $67,246 Gardner-Webb University · $66,573 Geneva College · $76,029 Molloy College · $86,895 University of Mary · $78,122 Benedictine University · $87,890 Georgian Court University · $65,945 Immaculata University · $70,628 Rosemont College · $63,426 University of Mount Union · $87,989 Walsh University · $78,716 University of Scranton · $99,467 Canisius University · $66,494 La Salle University · $90,211 Mount Mercy University · $61,899 Regis University · $97,219 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $73,727 University of Portland · $91,182 Marywood University · $72,995 Mercyhurst University · $76,020 Seattle University · $75,752 University of Northwestern - St Paul · $78,693 George Fox University · $84,395 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $76,488 Otterbein University · $83,760 Siena College · $96,009 University of Mount Olive · $68,661 Loyola University Maryland · $95,185 Gannon University · $73,879 Point Loma Nazarene University · $103,800 Rivier University · $76,043 Samford University · $90,184 Xavier University · $90,016 Houston Christian University · $74,333 Oral Roberts University · $81,638 Saint John's University (NY) · $85,358 Saint Norbert College · $83,466 Saint Xavier University · $76,458 St. John's University - New York · $78,231 Wingate University · $67,973 Benedict College · $58,679 Campbell University · $83,999 Mount Vernon Nazarene University · $77,359 Dominican University · $77,480 DePaul University · $90,482 St. Mary's University · $86,135 Freed-Hardeman University · $73,285 Brenau University · $76,527 University of Olivet · $68,480 Palm Beach Atlantic University · $59,916 Valparaiso University · $87,673 Cornerstone University · $69,124 Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion · $73,413 Saint Edward's University · $74,065 Belmont University · $128,643 Dallas Baptist University · $64,187 North Central University · $73,174 University of the Incarnate Word · $78,126 Virginia Union University · $54,090 Hardin-Simmons University · $75,061 Lubbock Christian University · $64,328 Thomas More University · $77,426 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $81,375 Christian Brothers University · $68,352 Oklahoma Christian University · $104,288 University of Lynchburg · $73,766 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · $76,407 University of Saint Thomas (TX) · $70,402 Wisconsin Lutheran College · $80,060 Rochester University · $61,023 Benedictine College · $79,131 University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne · $76,752 Grand View University · $67,393 Southern Nazarene University · $73,675 University of Miami · $102,630 Hampton University · $70,829 Syracuse University · $107,535 University of Tampa · $83,248 Stetson University · $78,308 Jacksonville University · $80,398 Howard University · $77,370 Webber International University · $62,160 George Washington University · $125,655 Lake Erie College · $68,252 Hofstra University · $90,161 Webster University · $90,036 Quinnipiac University · $89,631 Drake University · $107,159 Elon University · $112,019 Goldey-Beacom College · $57,366 Florida Institute of Technology · $77,506 Alfred University · $68,436 Bradley University · $85,047 Westminster University · $85,789 University of Charleston · $74,297 Rochester Institute of Technology · $87,238 Aurora University · $75,129 Lasell University · $64,432 Long Island University · $85,980 Robert Morris University · $73,992 Suffolk University · $87,568 Wilkes University · $72,364 University of Bridgeport · $65,036 Tiffin University · $73,776 Lindenwood University · $68,336 Adelphi University · $81,697 Springfield College · $78,879 Pace University · $90,333 Thomas Jefferson University · $76,036 Marietta College · $78,602 Trine University · $75,700 University of Hartford · $70,779 Butler University · $80,139 Husson University · $72,742 Rider University · $79,470 Lynn University · $69,706 Manhattanville College · $75,038 Davenport University · $56,930 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham · $74,166 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $74,166 Keystone College · $60,993 Widener University · $76,345 University of Denver · $91,193 Western New England University · $77,271 Maryville University of Saint Louis · $71,485 Roosevelt University · $75,323 Nova Southeastern University · $80,556 Thomas College · $67,090 National University · $75,632 University of Florida · $101,495 University of Georgia · $95,273 Purdue University · $81,838 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $118,899 University of Texas at Austin · $117,316 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $108,741 Florida State University · $89,932 University of Pennsylvania · $310,624 Georgetown University · $145,611 Washington University in St Louis · $203,101 Wake Forest University · $146,733 Tulane University · $118,359 Case Western Reserve University · $96,940 Lehigh University · $133,413 Arts: mean $72,729 Military: mean $84,915 STEM Non-Research: mean $90,884 Female-only: mean $74,837 Business: mean $88,614 Liberal Arts: mean $79,985 Public University: mean $76,268 Religious University: mean $80,841 Private University: mean $79,236 Public University 1–15: mean $101,928 Private University 1–30: mean $164,969 All colleges: p10 $63,469 All colleges: p90 $97,219
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Finance 659 45,492 73% / 27% 5% $80,269 96%
Finance 635 43,513 73% / 27% 6% $79,986 96%
Financial Analytics 10 395 68% / 32% 6% $83,923
Financial Planning and Services 28 339 68% / 32% 3% $80,994 97%
Finance, Investment, and Banking 1 300 67% / 33% 3% $108,741 96%
Consumer Finance and Financial Planning 1 181 73% / 27% 5% $108,741 96%
Personal Financial Planning 5 169 78% / 22% 2% $83,031 97%
Financial Planning 17 101 75% / 25% 2% $78,433 96%
Investments and Securities 5 91 84% / 16% 13% $76,412 94%
Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics 1 75 73% / 27% 5% $71,466 96%
Consumer and Family Financial Services 1 68 79% / 21% 0% $68,603 98%
Banking and Financial Economics 1 64 88% / 12% 2% $73,250 100%
Banking and Financial Support Services 2 49 69% / 31% 0% $75,808 97%
Banking and Finance 2 30 40% / 60% 7% $67,174 87%
Financial Services 1 26 85% / 15% 0% $83,999 92%
Public Finance 1 20 85% / 15% 5% $71,920
Finance and Financial Management Services 2 19 79% / 21% 0% $76,443
Finance and Financial Management 9 17 53% / 47% 0% $80,809
Financial Counseling and Planning 1 14 36% / 64% 0% $66,061 100%
Banking and Financial Services 1 6 33% / 67% 0% $77,187 100%
Investments 1 6 100% / 0% 0% $79,256 98%
Transportation, Logistics, and Finance 1 6 100% / 0% 17% $68,921 94%
Financial Quantitative Analytics 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $56,286 98%
Financial Management 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $73,174