15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance

Graduates of a bachelor’s degree in Finance or related programs have a number of options available to them for career choices. Here are just a few options:

Financial Examiners: 6%
Financial Managers: 9%
Financial Clerks: 11%
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: 11%
Financial Analysts: 16%
Personal Financial Advisors: 27%

The job growth expectation between 2012 and 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is between 6-27%, depending on the career choice. This in comparison to the national average of 11% job growth expectations for all jobs in the U.S. in the same duration. Note that there are many other possible occupations for graduates of a Finance-related bachelor’s degree. See the links to BLS OOH pages in the Reference section at the end of this article for more information.

The following list of Finance-related degrees continues our series of “Affordable Schools” for various bachelor’s degree programs. This includes bachelor’s degrees that are either majors in Finance, or minors, or in a strongly related area of study — any of which could lead to certification for select finance-related careers, if necessary.

NOTES:

As accreditation can change or only be valid regionally, please verify accreditation of any college to which you are planning to apply.
See the “Methodology” section of the ranking list article 15 of the Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees in Marketing for an explanation of the process we use to rank colleges in each list.
NCES data is subject to change and some of these “affordable degrees” guides may use more recent data than described in the Methodology.
For the full list of programs covered to date, please check our School Rankings page.

15: Augusta University

Augusta University, Allgood Hall (source)

Augusta University (AU), formerly known as Georgia Regents University (GRU), is a public university formed from a recent merger with Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU). GRU itself was established in 1828 as the Medical Academy of Georgia. AU is part of the University System of Georgia and its main and secondary campuses are located in Augusta, Georgia, about 150 miles east and slightly south of Atlanta, GA.

AU offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The BBA prepares students to become account managers, bank managers, business or financial analysts, investment associates, sales managers, or stockbrokers within such entities as accounting firms, banks, corporations, healthcare organizations, insurance companies, or real estate firms. The BBA requires 124 credit-hours (approx. 43 courses), with 42 for common core courses (incl. in humanities & fine arts; science, math, and technology; and social sciences). Another 18 go toward degree-related core courses (incl. accounting and economics). For the major, 42 hours are for required courses, with 21 for upper-level common courses (incl. business, management, and marketing). The remaining 21 are for Finance-related courses (incl. advanced corporate finance, financial markets & institutions, and investment & portfolio analysis). Meanwhile, program electives can be utilized for GRU internship opportunities. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 30%.
Transfer-out rate: 15%.
In-state tuition: $7,326.
Out-of-state tuition: $21,130.
Yearly average net price: $7,667.
Student population: 7988.
# undergraduates: 5225.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

14: California State University-Northridge

Manzanitas Hall, California State University-Northridge (source)

California State University-Northridge (CSUN) is a public university established in 1958 as San Fernando Valley State College. It is now part of the California State University system and is located in Northridge, California, about 25 miles northwest of Los Angeles, CA.

CSUN offers three Finance-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance prepares students for opportunities in management and finance roles in businesses and corporations, plus budget analysis, consulting, investment, or management analysis roles in the financial services sector. It requires 120 units (approx. 41 courses), with 46 for business core courses (incl. a senior-year capstone) and 24 for Finance courses. The BS can also be taken with an 18-unit sequence in Personal Financial Planning (PFP). The PFP’s six courses (incl. investments, retirement planning & employee benefits, and tax & estate planning) are approved by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board of Standards to prepare students for the CFP certification exam. Meanwhile, CSUN’s 120-unit BS in Business Administration with an Insurance & Financial Services option prepares students to work in insurance, investments, and securities. Finally, students in non-finance majors can take CSUN’s 21-hour minor in Finance. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 47%.
Transfer-out rate: 12%.
In-state tuition: $6,549.
Out-of-state tuition: $17,709.
Yearly average net price: $7,654.
Student population: 40131.
# undergraduates: 35616.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

13: University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown Commerce building (source)

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is a public university originally established in 1974 as the University of Houston-Downtown College. UHD became a standalone institution and a member of the University of Houston System in 1979. Its main campus is comprised of five buildings located in the neighboring Downtown and Northside districts of Houston, Texas.

UHD offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The BBA prepares students for careers in corporate financial management, personal financial planning, real estate appraisal, or wealth management. Students can also pursue graduate studies or such professional designations as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The BBA requires 120 hours (approx. 40 courses), with 48 for business core requirements (incl. courses in business communication, business finance, and a business strategy capstone). The major’s required courses take up 12 hours (incl. advanced financial management, investments, and managerial finance). Another 12 go toward one of two tracks — Corporate Finance or Investment Management — which share three course options (derivative securities, intermediate corporate finance, and quantitative methods). UHD also has two, 18-hour Finance-related minors: one in Finance, the other in Accounting & Finance (for non-business majors). See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 19%.
Transfer-out rate: 48%.
In-state tuition: $5,516.
Out-of-state tuition: $14,204.
Yearly average net price: $7,436.
Student population: 14439.
# undergraduates: 13830.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: No.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

12: Louisiana State University-Shreveport

Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS) is a public university established in 1967 as a two-year community college. LSUS is now part of the Louisiana State University System and is located in Shreveport, Louisiana, about 190 miles roughly east of Dallas, Texas.

LSUS offers two Finance-related Bachelor’s programs — both based on its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance. The BS overall prepares students for financial or management positions in banks, corporations, and investment firms. Its Financial Analysis concentration (FAC) expands career options to include becoming a financial researcher, investment/securities analyst, or treasurer/comptroller. The Financial Services concentration (FSC) adds opportunities in commercial real estate, insurance sales & underwriting, and financial brokering/planning. Both options require 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with 42 for business core courses. The FAC accounts for another 30 hours (incl. courses in advanced business finance, international finance, investment, and an internship option). If the FSC is chosen, however, it takes up 24 hours (incl. courses in life & health insurance, property & liability insurance, real estate, and an internship option). The FAC and FSC can also be taken together or combined with majors in accounting, management, or marketing. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 31%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $6,168.
Out-of-state tuition: $6,168.
Yearly average net price: $7,433.
Student population: 4186.
# undergraduates: 3202.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: No.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

11: CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College campus in winter (source)

Brooklyn College is a public, senior college that was established in 1930 and became part of the City University of New York (CUNY) in 1961. The college — the first public, co-ed liberal arts college in the city — is located in the south-central part of Brooklyn, New York, about four miles southeast of the Barclays Center.

Brooklyn offers two Finance-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance prepares students for financial careers in banks, brokerage firms, investment services companies, or mutual fund companies. Opportunities also exist in the finance/treasury departments at businesses, government agencies, or non-profits. The BBA requires 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 44-46 for business core courses and 18 for Finance courses (incl. such options as enterprise risk management, investment & securities markets, personal finance, and real estate management). Brooklyn’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Financial Mathematics prepares students for careers in derivatives pricing and risk & portfolio management, working as financial advisors, hedge fund analysts, or risk managers. Of the 120 credits required, 24 must be for advanced math courses (incl. investment science, probability & statistics, and time series). Finally, Brooklyn has two 20-credit, Finance-related minors: one in Finance, one in Financial Planning. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 50%.
Transfer-out rate: 26%.
In-state tuition: $6,536.
Out-of-state tuition: $13,346.
Yearly average net price: $7,220.
Student population: 17390.
# undergraduates: 14115.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

10: Northeastern State University

Northeastern State University (NSU) is a public university established in 1909 as Northeastern State Normal School. The university’s main campus is in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, capital of the Cherokee Nation, some 70 miles southeast of Tulsa, OK.

NSU offers two main Finance-related Bachelor’s programs — both based on its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The BBA’s Financial Management emphasis (FME) prepares students to become financial managers for accounting firms, banks, businesses, insurance companies, or investment firms. The Financial Planning emphasis (FPE) prepares students to become financial advisors/planners for individuals or businesses, creating & managing plans for employee benefits, investments, retirement, or wealth. Both options require 124 credit-hours (approx. 42 courses) with 42 for the business core (incl. a business strategy/policy capstone). Each emphasis requires 24 hours and has an internship option. For the FME, courses include international finance and managerial finance. For the FPE, courses include professional financial planning and retirement & employee benefit planning. Meanwhile, NSU’s 124-hour BBA in International Business offers a 12-hour emphasis in Finance/Economics. And, students in other majors can take NSU’s 18-hour minor in Finance. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 31%.
Transfer-out rate: 25%.
In-state tuition: $5,285.
Out-of-state tuition: $12,635.
Yearly average net price: $7,211.
Student population: 8310.
# undergraduates: 7094.
Campus setting: Town: Remote.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

9: SUNY College at Old Westbury

Old Westbury Gardens Mansion in Old Westbury (source)

The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Old Westbury (Old Westbury) is a public college established in 1965. It is part of the SUNY public university system and is located on Long Island, in Old Westbury, New York, about 30 miles east and slightly north of New York City, NY.

Old Westbury offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. This BS gives students a foundation in business, economic, and financial analysis to prepare them for financial and business roles in banks, corporations, financial services firms, insurance companies, and real estate firms. The BS requires 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with at least 30 for General Education requirements (incl. courses in the American experience, major cultures, math, natural sciences, and the Western tradition). The business core requires about 52 credits (incl. courses in business law, business strategy & policy, organizational behavior & management, and operations management). The Finance specialization requires at least 12 credits (comprising financial markets & institutions, global financial markets, investment management & security analysis, and corporate finance or futures & options). Program electives can be utilized for internship opportunities. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 37%.
Transfer-out rate: 29%.
In-state tuition: $7,323.
Out-of-state tuition: $16,953.
Yearly average net price: $7,018.
Student population: 4504.
# undergraduates: 4315.
Campus setting: Suburb: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

8: New Jersey City University

Hepburn Hall, New Jersey City University

New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public university established in 1929 as the New Jersey State Normal School at Jersey City. NJCU’s main, West, and Harborside campuses are in Jersey City, New Jersey, about 6 miles southeast of Newark, NJ, and around 7 miles west of New York City, New York.

NJCU offers two Finance-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance prepares students to become commodities & currency traders, credit managers, loan officers, portfolio managers, securities analysts, or stock brokers. It also prepares them for graduate/professional studies (incl. business, law, and public administration). The BS requires a minimum of 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 44-49 for General Education (GenEd) requirements (incl. courses in creative process & production; language, literary, and cultural studies; scientific & quantitative inquires; social & historical perspectives; and a GenEd capstone). The major requires about 63 credits (incl. courses in capital markets & financial institutions, corporate finance, international finance, investment principles, money & banking, and portfolio analysis). Program electives can be utilized for co-op education opportunities. Finally, NJCU has a new Honors Program in Finance that is cohort-based and offers full scholarships and study-abroad experiences. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 32%.
Transfer-out rate: 37%.
In-state tuition: $10,852.
Out-of-state tuition: $19,424.
Yearly average net price: $6,931.
Student population: 8136.
# undergraduates: 6229.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

7: Fayetteville State University

Downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina (source)

Fayetteville State University (FSU) is a public HBCU (historically black college/university) established in 1867 as the Howard School. Now part of the University of North Carolina System, FSU is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, about 60 miles southwest of Raleigh, NC, and some 130 miles east and slightly south of Charlotte, NC.

FSU offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Banking and Finance. This BS prepares students for financial analysis and management careers, including in banks, corporations, financial services companies, healthcare organizations, and public sector/government agencies. The BS requires 120 credits (approx. 41 courses), with 39 for core curriculum requirements (incl. courses in critical thinking, ethics & civic engagement, global literacy, humanities & creative arts, natural sciences, and quantitative reasoning). The major has 64 credits of required courses & electives (incl. business or Excel analytics; financial management; information systems; investments; marketing; money, banking, and monetary policy; operations management; a strategic management capstone; and the option of a senior-year economics & finance internship). Finally, students in other FSU majors can study Finance through the 18-credit minor that is offered. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 35%.
Transfer-out rate: 22%.
In-state tuition: $4,655.
Out-of-state tuition: $16,263.
Yearly average net price: $6,848.
Student population: 5899.
# undergraduates: 5247.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

6: Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University campus (source)

Utah Valley University (UVU), Utah’s largest public university, was established in 1941 as Central Utah Vocational School. It is located in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south and slightly east of Salt Lake City, UT.

UVU has three Finance-related Bachelor’s programs. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance both prepare students for positions in banking, corporate financial management, investment sales or analysis, or securities or stock brokering. Both require 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 31-34 for Finance core courses and electives (incl. financial management, investment management, a business strategy capstone, and an internship option). UVU’s BS in Personal Financial Planning (PFP), meanwhile, covers the educational requirements for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, which can lead to careers as fee-only investment planners, financial counselors, HR benefit managers, or wealth & asset managers. This BS requires 120 credits, with 37 for the PFP core (incl. courses in estate planning, retirement planning, tax planning, a senior-year capstone, and a senior-year internship). Finally, UVU has three other Finance options: an 18-credit minor, and an 18-credit emphasis for each of its Integrated Studies BA and BS degrees. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 31%.
Transfer-out rate: 25%.
In-state tuition: $5,270.
Out-of-state tuition: $14,802.
Yearly average net price: $6,766.
Student population: 31332.
# undergraduates: 31163.
Campus setting: City: Small.
Campus housing avail.: No.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: B.

5: CUNY Queens College

Rosenthal Library, CUNY Queens College (source)

Queens College is a public, senior college that was established in 1937 and is now part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system. It is located in the Kew Gardens Hills neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City, NY (but generally goes by its postal designation of Flushing, Queens).

Queens has one main Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance with a concentration in Corporate Finance. This BBA prepares students to work in commercial or investment banks, corporations, consulting firms, financial services firms, or insurance companies. BBA students can also pursue graduate studies or professional financial designations. The BBA requires 120 credits (approx. 40 courses), with 63 for the major (incl. 6 for globalization & environment electives). Another 42 are for business fundamentals courses (incl. accounting, economics, regression analysis, and spreadsheet programming). The remaining 15 are for the Corporate Finance concentration (incl. courses in financial markets, intermediate finance, investment analysis, and such options as money & banking, multinational financial management, options & futures, and personal finance). Finally, electives can be used for internship options or an interdisciplinary minor in Financial Modeling from the Computer Science department. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 57%.
Transfer-out rate: 20%.
In-state tuition: $6,507.
Out-of-state tuition: $13,317.
Yearly average net price: $6,728.
Student population: 19310.
# undergraduates: 15773.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: F.

4: University of North Texas at Dallas

University of North Texas at Dallas (source)

The University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD) is a public university established in 2000. UNTD is part of the University of North Texas System and is located in Dallas, Texas.

UNTD offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The BBA prepares students for positions in business analysis, commercial or investment banking, financial planning, investor relations, or real estate. Students can also pursue an MBA or such professional designations as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP). The BBA requires 120 credit-hours (approx. 40 courses), with 60 for the pre-business program, which includes core curriculum requirements and foundational business courses (incl. accounting and economics). The major’s 60 hours of upper-level required & elective courses include a range of business, business law, economics, management, and marketing courses. About 21 of those 60 are for Finance courses (incl. financial markets & institutions, investments, liquidity & working capital management, and valuation & financial decisions). Finally, electives can be utilized to take a senior-year UNTD internship opportunity. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: n/a.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $7,650.
Out-of-state tuition: $18,720.
Yearly average net price: $5,859.
Student population: 2575.
# undergraduates: 2251.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: No.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: B+.

3: University of Texas at El Paso

University of Texas at El Paso (source)

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public university that was established in 1914 as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Today UTEP is part of the University of Texas System and is located in El Paso, Texas, some 550 miles northwest of San Antonio, TX, and about 270 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

UTEP has two Finance-related Bachelor’s programs — both based on its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The Financial Analyst concentration prepares students to become asset managers or investment analysts/strategists for individuals or businesses. The General Finance concentration can lead to various financial or business roles within corporations, energy companies, financial services firms, and real estate firms. Each BBA option requires 120 semester-hours (approx. 42 courses) overall, with 42 hours for core curriculum requirements and 15 for business foundation courses. Business core requirements account for about 39 hours (incl. courses in management & organizational behavior, operations & production management, and strategic management). Each area of concentration then requires about 24 hours for its specific required and elective courses (which can include senior-year independent study and internship options). Finally, non-business majors can study Finance as a 21-hour minor. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 38%.
Transfer-out rate: 31%.
In-state tuition: $7,259.
Out-of-state tuition: $18,389.
Yearly average net price: $5,607.
Student population: 23079.
# undergraduates: 19817.
Campus setting: City: Large.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

2: Texas A & M International University

TAMIU Water Fountain (source)

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is a public university established in 1969 as Texas A&I University at Laredo. TAMIU is now part of the Texas A&M University System and is located in Laredo, Texas, about 160 miles southwest of San Antonio, TX.

TAMIU offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Finance. The BBA can prepare students to become budget, credit, or financial analysts; investment bankers; loan officers or underwriters; or financial consultants, managers, or planners. Students must complete 120 credit-hours (approx. 43 courses), with 42 for core curriculum requirements (incl. courses in creative arts, life & physical sciences, history, and political science). The BBA’s business foundation and common body of knowledge areas of study account for 33 hours (incl. courses in accounting, economics, management information systems, and marketing). The major’s upper-level curriculum and Finance concentration areas cover another 30 hours (incl. courses in financial institutions & markets, international finance, investments & portfolio management, and strategic financial management). Finally, electives can be utilized to take a senior-year TAMIU internship opportunity. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 45%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $6,453.
Out-of-state tuition: $15,129.
Yearly average net price: $4,639.
Student population: 7554.
# undergraduates: 6741.
Campus setting: City: Midsize.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.

1: Berea College

Berea College (source)

Berea College is a private, non-sectarian Christian college established in 1855. Berea was the first racially integrated, co-ed college in the Southern United States. It is located in Berea, Kentucky, about 110 miles southeast of Louisville, KY, and some 120 miles roughly south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Berea offers one Finance-related Bachelor’s program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. This BS enables students to continue on to graduate studies or pursue financial careers as bank managers, consumer or commercial credit managers, corporate finance managers, or securities analysts or brokers. Students must complete at least 128 semester-hours/32 credits (approx. 35 courses), with about 60 hours for General Education requirements (incl. courses in arts, health & fitness, practical reasoning, scientific knowledge & inquiry, and understandings of Christianity). Another 44 hours go toward the major’s core & collateral courses (incl. accounting, economics, management, marketing, and a senior-year capstone). The Finance concentration requires 16 hours (incl. courses in corporate finance, investment analysis, and money & banking). Finally, electives can be utilized to take one or more of Berea’s internship opportunities. See site for additional requirements/details, or contact the school.

Graduation rate: 62%.
Transfer-out rate: n/a.
In-state tuition: $24,270.
Out-of-state tuition: $24,270.
Yearly average net price: $1,990.
Student population: 1621.
# undergraduates: 1621.
Campus setting: Town: Distant.
Campus housing avail.: Yes.
Areavibes.com cost of living score: A+.