Best Affordable Online Bachelor's In Finance

An online bachelor's degree in finance is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce and pursue careers in banking, investment, financial planning, financial services, or other finance-related positions. And, while the career options in this field are plentiful, there will be even more opportunities added to the mix in the near future. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of business and finance is expected to grow by about 5% from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

If you pursue a degree in finance, you will study topics in a number of different areas, including business administration and math, which will teach you about analytics, planning, accounting, management, and other areas important to the world of finance. Your classes will give you the tools you need to enter the workforce or even pursue a master's degree in finance, should you decide that's the right route for you.

You aren't limited to brick and mortar classes when studying finance, either. There are plenty of good online finance degree options to choose from. By earning a bachelor's degree in finance online, you will have a flexible schedule that allows you to finish your degree requirements while meeting your other work and life obligations.

Top 10 Best Affordable Online Bachelor's in Finance Programs

Degree Overview

An online bachelor's in finance program prepares students for entry-level jobs in business, insurance, real estate, and finance. The BLS projects globalization and changing tax regulations to fuel a 7% employment increase in business and finance jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Affordable online bachelor's in finance degrees prepare students for several careers in finance and business. Concentrations can prepare students for specific positions. For example, finance graduates can pursue careers as accountants and auditors who create and evaluate financials. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $71,550 in 2019. The BLS projects demand for accountants and auditors to rise 6% between 2018 and 2028.

Approximately 1.4 million accountants and auditors work in finance and insurance, government,accounting, tax preparation, and payroll services. These professionals work primarily in offices, clocking in 40 hours per week and sometimes overtime during the tax season or the end of the quarter.

Graduates can also become financial analysts, who earned a median annual salary of $85,660 in 2018. Primary responsibilities of financial analysts include advising companies about investments and examining financial records. About 23% of the 329,500 financial analysts employed in 2018 worked in securities, commodity contracts, and financial investments. Others worked in insurance, professional and technical services, and financial management.

After earning an affordable bachelor's in finance online, graduates can also begin careers as management analysts, who earned a median annual salary of $85,260 in 2019. Management analysts help companies improve efficiency to increase profits. Approximately 30% of management analysts work in professional, scientific, and technical services. Another 18% are self-employed.

Bachelor's in Finance Degree Requirements

Each program has different requirements for enrollment. Some colleges require high GPAs and high standardized test scores, while others have more lenient acceptance parameters.

In order to enroll in a finance degree program, you may need to show a higher-than-average GPA from your high school or community college transcripts. An ACT score over 20 or an SAT score over 1000 will place above the national average, which will help you to be competitive when applying for admission to bachelor's degree in finance programs.

After you're accepted into a program, you'll need to complete about 120 credit hours to graduate from most programs. These credit requirements include a mix of core classes and finance-related classes, though what you're required to take will depend heavily on the program you enroll in. There may also be GPA requirements to contend with while you're enrolled in a finance degree program, so make sure you know what the admissions requirements are and what the requirements are that you will need to satisfy to earn your degree.

Career and Salary Outlook

There are a number of careers you can pursue with a finance degree. Some popular options include accounting, insurance analysis, and banking, though a degree in this field will allow you to pursue plenty of other opportunities, too.

Financial advising is one of the highest-paying finance careers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median salary that averages over $80,000 per year. One of the fastest growing finance careers is marketing research analyst, a role that straddles business and finance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook in this field is expected to increase by about 18% from 2019 to 2029, which is much higher than the national average for all careers.

The job outlook for personal financial advisors is also showing promising growth, and is expected to increase by about 4% from 2019 to 2029, according to the BLS. The job outlook for financial analysts is equally promising, with an expected growth rate of about 5% from 2019 to 2029.

Common Bachelor's in Finance Courses

Legal environment of business This course introduces learners to the fundamentals of government regulations in business, the nature of contracts, and the Statute of Frauds. Learners study topics such as contracts, taxation, antitrust legislation, and labor laws. At the culmination of this course, students can identify and respond to business legal risks. This course may include several court visits.
Financial management This course teaches online learners about assessing risk factors in different financial scenarios and how to use capital pricing models and capital budgeting techniques. Students explore financial statement analysis, risk management, investments, and corporate finance. This course often uses case studies to present topics.
Risk management and insurance This course helps students better understand the fundamental principles of insurance and risk management in nonprofits and for-profit companies. Coursework prepares students to identify and implement methods to manage financial, legal, and contractual risks. Students leave the course with the skills needed to find work as claims professionals and risk analysts.
Principles of marketing During this course, learners study the marketing decisions business professionals make to promote and sell products and services. They learn about how marketing functions impact finance and management sectors. Additional topics include intellectual property concepts, product life cycles, target markets, and product decisions. Students also learn how to interpret market research.
Investment and portfolio analysis This course teaches students to use modern portfolio theory to build diversified portfolios with various assets while avoiding risks. Throughout this course, students gain the knowledge to analyze investment performance. They also learn to navigate the global economy and learn about the risks and benefits of real estate, bonds, and hedge funds.

Bachelor's in Finance Concentrations

Students pursue concentrations to tailor their online bachelor's in finance degree to suit their strengths, interests, and career goals. Employers may prefer to hire candidates with specific skills and knowledge. Online learners can diversify their skill sets by pursuing a concentration that applies directly to a specific job.

Each program offers different concentrations. Common options include asset management, business analytics, corporate finance, and financial accounting. Some programs also offer concentrations in information management, corporate finance, and risk management.

Financial Analysis and Reporting Concentration

Degree-seekers who want to become tax examiners, accountants, and auditors can pursue a concentration in financial analysis and reporting. This concentration may require learners to take courses like financial statement analysis, corporate tax strategy, and information management analytics technology. Students learn how to analyze a company's financial situation to prepare statements, annual reports, and balance sheets.

Tax Concentration

Future tax accountants and tax advisors can benefit from a tax concentration, which focuses on how to prepare tax returns, manage tax liabilities, and resolve tax issues for individuals and companies.

Risk Management Concentration

Prospective risk analysts and risk control supervisors can enroll in a risk management concentration. Throughout this concentration, students learn about quantitative and qualitative models and methods that help professionals respond to market risks, fraud, and government regulations.

Real Estate Concentration

Some programs offer real estate concentration, which teaches online learners about laws related to property management, sales, and ownership. Real estate students may take courses in commercial debt markets, development, and real estate finance and mortgage securities. This concentration prepares graduates for careers in property management, investment banking, and asset management.

Certifications for Finance Majors

There are a number of certifications available for finance majors that will help boost employment prospects. These include:

Certified Financial Planner

Certified financial planners (CFP) are qualified in a wide range of finance duties. CFPs are trained in topics like stocks and bonds, estate planning, and insurance. These financial planners help people manage their financial situations and meet financial goals.

Chartered Financial Analyst

A chartered financial analyst is trained and demonstrates knowledge in accounting, economics, security analysis, and other related areas. After acquiring this certification, you may choose to go into analysis rather than planning. To get this certification, you have to pass three exams and have three years of work experience.

Certified Public Accountant

CPAs are trained in tax preparation, which is a small subsect of finance. Some CPAs choose to get multiple certifications to cover other areas of finance, analysis, and planning, but as a CPA, you will be very popular, and very busy, during tax season.

Certified Management Accountant

Certified management accountants work for public companies, private businesses, and government agencies to record and crunch numbers, choose and manage company investments, tackle risk management, budgeting, planning, and strategizing, and oversee decision making. This certification is typically for those focused on advanced accounting.

Financial Risk Manager

A financial risk manager generally works to identify and analyze threats to a company's assets, earning capacity, and success. Financial risk managers often work in loan origination, trading and investments, financial services, or private banking. This certification isn't easy to get, but if you acquire it, you will be an asset to any team. This type of certification requires testing and work experience in critical thinking and risk assessment, and offers you opportunities to work in risk management on a global scale.

Related Degrees

Accounting

An accounting degree is centered around math, which is similar to a degree in finance. An accounting degree can also help you build a strong career in business and finance. Accountants typically work for corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, or businesses both large and small. Their job duties include creating financial reports, reviewing expenses, tracking income, preparing tax documents, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Marketing

Marketing is another degree that aligns well with finance. The field of marketing analysis in particular may be of interest to you, as it is a combination of marketing and analytical math.

Math and actuarial science

A degree in math or actuarial science also aligns with finance, as both are heavily steeped in math principles and can prepare you for a career in finance.

Scholarships & Financial Aid for Finance Students

Scholarships can be a great way to help finance your education. If you're looking for scholarships for finance students, consider these options:

AFWA Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The Accounting and Financial Women's Alliance (AFWA) has an undergraduate scholarship program designed to assist with the third, fourth, or fifth year finance degree. If you want to apply for this scholarship, you must have completed your sophomore year, have at least 60 credits, have a 3.0 GPA, and be attending school in the U.S.

Amount: Varies

Deadline: April 1

J.P. Morgan Launching Leaders Scholarship

The J.P. Morgan Launching Leaders Scholarship is designed for Black, Hispanic, and Native American students studying finance. Applicants must be in their sophomore or junior year, be enrolled in an accredited U.S. school, have a GPA of 3.2, and have a demonstrated desire to work in financial services. The scholarships are up to $15,000 each and include placement in the Summer Analyst Internship Program for hands-on training.

Amount: $2,500 to $7,500

Deadline: January 17

Equitable Excellence Scholarship

The Equitable Excellence Scholarship offers numerous scholarships in the amount of $2,500, $10,000, and $25,000 to students from each state, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. Qualified applicants must be enrolling full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year university in the U.S. You must be a U.S. citizen, be a graduating high school senior, have volunteer experience, and have excelled in high school.

Amount: $2,500, $10,000 or $25,000

Deadline: December 15