(source)
The focus of this online bachelor’s degree rankings article is Finance. The topic category in the NCES (http://nces.ed.gov/) database is “Finance, General,” and courses for all degrees ranked here are either 100% fully online or offered in a hybrid or mixed mode. In-person presence may be required for orientation, exams, internships, practicums, etc. Be sure to also check our affordability ranking of traditional bachelor’s of finance degrees, and our ranking of online master’s of finance degrees.
Careers in Finance
There are dozens of possible career paths for a graduate of a baccalaureate degree in Finance and related-topics, as shown in the list below. This is only a partial list of careers (and relevant industries/ organizations), and is compiled from the Web pages of the 20 colleges ranked in this article. Advanced degrees and/or professional certification may be required for some of these occupations.
- account executive
- account representative
- accounts receivable manager
- auditor
- bank examiner
- bank manager
- banking
- banking professional
- broker
- brokerage firms
- budget analyst
- budgeting
- business analyst
- business owner
- business teacher
- capital budgeting manager
- certified financial planner
- chief executive officer (CEO)
- chief financial officer (CFO)
- colleges and universities
- commercial credit analyst
- commodities broker
- commodities sales agent
- compliance officer
- contract management
- controller
- corporate banker
- corporate finance manager
- corporate financial management
- cost estimator
- credit analyst
- credit counselor
- credit management
- credit manager
- credit unions
- customer finance rep
- derivatives operations specialist
- director of finance
- entrepreneur
- equity research analyst
- finance manager
- finance systems analyst
- financial advisor
- financial aid advisor
- financial aid officer
- financial analyst
- financial controller
- financial examiner
- financial manager
- financial planner
- financial service professionals
- financial specialist
- financial system analyst
- fraud detection associate
- fund manager
- general manager
- government financial management
- insurance
- insurance agencies
- insurance agent
- internal auditor
- investment analyst
- investment broker
- investment firms
- investment manager
- investment officer
- investment specialist
- junior equity trader
- lending officer
- lending services manager
- loan counselor
- loan officer
- management analyst
- marketing officer
- money management
- money manager
- operations manager
- personal banker
- personal financial advisor
- personal financial planning
- planning analyst
- portfolio analyst
- portfolio management
- portfolio manager
- production manager
- program manager
- public finance
- real estate appraiser
- real estate broker
- real estate sales agent
- relationship banker
- research analyst
- risk analyst
- risk manager
- sales estimator
- securities analyst
- securities firms
- securities sales agent
- securities trader
- security analyst
- stock trader
- store manager
- treasurer
- underwriter
- wealth manager
Rankings: Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Finance
20: University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Goodell Hall, originally built as the UML library (source)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass Amherst) is a public research university that was established in 1863. UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts System and is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, some 90 miles roughly west of Boston, MA, and about 50 miles north and somewhat east of Hartford, Connecticut. Original name: Massachusetts Agricultural College.
UMass Amherst has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Major in Finance. The BBA requires 120 credits, with 34 for the Isenberg/ business core (incl. accounting, finance, and management courses) and 30 for the finance major (15 for finance courses and 15 for business electives in a particular area of career interest). The degree prepares students for finance-related positions with accounting firms, banks, brokerage firms, corporations, insurance companies, investment management firms, pension funds, private businesses, or real estate companies. As finance is the study of how money “interacts with risk and time,” this BBA teaches students how to evaluate the risk and profitability of a project, make and plan investments, raise debt and equity capital, and value an organization (from small businesses to multinational corporations). The BBA is an online degree completion program that is designed for working adults returning to school to complete their degrees (a minimum of 27 transferrable credits is required for admission).
Sample courses: Advanced Corporate Finance; Bank Management; Corporate Finance; Financial Modeling; International Finance; Investments; Principles of Financial Accounting
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19: Upper Iowa University
Andres Center for Business and Education, Upper Iowa University (source)
Upper Iowa University (UIU) is a private, nonprofit university established in 1857. UIU’s main campus is located in Fayette, Iowa, about 165 miles northeast of Des Moines, IA, and around 255 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois. Original name: Fayette Seminary of the Upper Iowa Conference.
UIU offers three online Finance programs: two Bachelors, one minor. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Financial Management requires a minimum of 120 credits, with 36 for the business core and 18 for the financial management major. This BS prepares students for careers in financial analysis, financial operations, financial service sales, or personal financial advising. Students who are more interested in business or operations management but need an understanding of finance can take UIU’s 120-credit BS in Business Administration with a 12-credit Emphasis in Finance. Students in other business majors who want to study finance, can take UIU’s 18-credit Minor in Financial Management. UIU’s online classes are available in 8-week sessions, 6 terms per academic year, which can help accelerate a student’s progress through their degree. To help with affordability, all online students pay the same tuition rate. Active duty military personnel, their family members, and veterans, meanwhile, can all receive varying discounts on their tuition.
Sample courses: Corporate Financial Management; Intermediate Financial Management; International Finance; Intermediate Financial Accounting; Investments; Money and Banking/ Capital Markets; Personal Financial Management; Risk Management
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18: Davenport University
Davenport University, Livonia Campus (source)
Davenport University (DU) is a private, nonprofit university that was established in 1866 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. DU’s main campus is located in Caledonia Township, MI, about 15 miles southeast of Grand Rapids but part of its suburbs. Original name: Grand Rapids Business College.
DU has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. The BBA requires 120 credits, with 32 for “foundations of business” courses and 43-49 for the major: 31 for required courses, 3 for a capstone/ internship, and 15 for the Financial Planning Specialty (FPS) or 9-10 for required electives. The FPS is a registered program that qualifies students to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam. Overall, the BBA provides students with fundamental knowledge in such key areas as budgeting, data analysis, internal controls, international business, and investments, preparing them for financial management careers with businesses (local, national, or international); financial service agencies; healthcare organizations; or investment firms. To help make a degree more affordable, DU now offers out-of-state online students a 33% discount on their tuition. DU’s accelerated 7-week semesters can also help students save on time and tuition costs.
Sample courses: ACG Capstone Experience I and II; Behavioral Finance; Finance BBA Internship; Financial Analysis for Business Managers; Financial Plan Development; Health Care Finance; Investment Planning; Money and Banking: Treasury Management Focus; Portfolio Management; Retirement Plan/ Employee Benefits
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17: Capella University
Capella University and parent company headquarters (source)
Capella University is a private, for-profit institution that was established in 1993. Capella is an online university, but is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Original name: The Graduate School of America.
Capella offers one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business with a Finance Specialization. This BS requires 180 quarter credits, with 42 for business core courses, 48 for finance specialization courses, and 6 for a capstone course. The degree prepares students for finance roles within banks, businesses, financial services companies, government departments, health care organizations, insurance companies, investment firms, mortgage companies, nonprofits, or real estate agencies. To help with affordability and accelerate a student’s progress, Capella has prior learning assessments that allow for course credits to be earned for existing knowledge, work experience, or training. To further save on time and tuition costs, students can take some or all of their general education requirements through Sophia Pathways, a learning partner that provides economical, online, self-paced course options. Meanwhile, veterans, along with military members and their spouses and dependents, can qualify for 10-15% tuition discounts.
Sample courses: Analysis for Financial Management; Business Capstone Project; Entrepreneurial Finance; Financial Institution Management; Financial Markets and Institutions; Issues in International Finance; Investments and Portfolio Management; Public and Nonprofit Finance; Real Estate Finance; Risk Management Strategies
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16: Old Dominion University
Perry Library, Old Dominion University (source)
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university that was established in 1930. ODU is located in Norfolk, Virginia, some 20 miles west and somewhat north of Virginia Beach, VA, and about 90 miles southeast of Richmond, VA. Original name: Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.
ODU has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a Concentration/ Major in Finance. The BSBA requires at least 120 semester hours, with 42 for the BSBA core and 33 for the finance major. The degree can be taken either fully online or as an online degree completion program. The fully online option generally suits students who do not have any college/ university experience and want to complete their full degree online at ODU. The online degree completion option suits: (a) students who already have an associate’s degree or have completed their first two years of post-secondary study; or (b) students who want to complete their first two years at another institution, including at ODU partner community colleges. (Of note, some lower-division or general education courses may not be available online; check course schedules or consult your advisor to confirm.) The BSBA prepares students for finance-related careers with businesses, governments, or nonprofits on a local, national, or global level.
Sample courses: Financial Decision Making; International Financial Management; Introduction to Futures and Options; Investments; Management of Financial Institutions; Principles of Insurance and Risk Management; Principles of Real Estate
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15: Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State, Meyer Carillon and Library with Hammons Fountain (source)
Missouri State University (MSU) is a public, comprehensive university that was established in 1905 (but has roots that go back to 1899 and the State Fruit Experiment Station). MSU is part of the Missouri State University system and is located in Springfield, Missouri, some 215 miles southwest of St. Louis, MO, and about 165 miles southeast of Kansas City, MO. Original name: Fourth District Normal School.
MSU has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance with an Option in Finance. The BS requires a minimum of 125 semester hours, with 32-33 for the major, including 18 for the Finance Option (on-campus students can also choose from the Financial Planning and Real Estate Tracks/ Options). The BS in Finance is an online degree completion program that requires students to have completed general education (GE) and lower-level (LL) requirements before applying for admission and declaring this major. (GE and LL requirements can be completed at another institution or at MSU through a combination of on-campus and online options; check with the school for details). This degree prepares students to become managers of assets, investments, money, and/ or real estate for businesses, government agencies, or individuals. Students with this BS will also be able to sit for the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) Level I exam and/ or continue on to graduate studies in business, finance, or economics.
Sample courses: Directed Study for CFA Level I Exam; Financial Decision Making; Financial Markets and Intermediaries; International Financial Management; Introduction to Estate Planning; Investments I and II; Management of Financial Institutions; Personal Financial Planning; Principles of Real Estate Appraisal; Readings in Finance
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14: University of the Southwest
University of the Southwest (source)
The University of the Southwest (USW) is a private, nonprofit Christian university that was established in 1962 (but has roots that go back to 1956 and Hobbs Baptist College). USW is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, some 310 miles southeast of Albuquerque, NM, and about 240 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas. Original name: Hobbs Baptist College.
USW offers one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with an Emphasis in Finance. The BBA requires a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, with 33 for major requirements (incl. accounting, business, finance, and management courses) and 30 for the emphasis (finance and management courses). This degree provides students with quantitative analysis tools and an understanding of financial markets, financial institution roles, and investment criteria. That gives them the ability to succeed as a financial professional, making sound financial decisions for businesses, individuals, or organizations. To help make its programs more widely affordable, USW charges all online students the same tuition rate, regardless of state of residence (i.e., there are no out-of-state fees). Additionally, the online tuition rate is not only lower than the on-campus rate, but there are no additional technology or distance education fees.
Sample courses: Financial Analysis; Financial Management; Global Finance; Insurance and Risk; Investments; Principles of Finance; Topics in Finance
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13: Colorado Technical University-Online
City Hall, Colorado Springs, Colorado (source)
Colorado Technical University (CTU) is a private, for-profit university established in 1965 as the Colorado Electronic Training Center. CTU’s main campus is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about 65 miles south and slightly east of Denver, CO.
CTU has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a Concentration in Finance. This BSBA requires 180 quarter credits, with 86 for core courses (primarily management, but also some accounting, economics, finance, and human resources) and 28 for the finance concentration. The degree prepares students for careers in banking, business, financial planning, insurance, or risk management. CTU has several options to help make tuition more affordable. Active-duty military personnel and their spouses can save about 33% on their tuition costs. All students also have the option to take CTU’s Fast Track mini-modules, which test a student’s existing experience and knowledge to allow them to earn credits without the need to complete certain courses. This unique option can help reduce tuition costs by as much as 30-39%, while accelerating the program timeline by the same percentage. (That means military students can cut their tuition costs by as much as 60%.)
Sample courses: Corporate Finance; Financial Accounting; Financial Management Principles; Financial Statement Analysis; International Finance; Investments; Money and Capital Markets; Risk Management
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12: Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University (source)
Metropolitan State University (Metro State or MSU) is a public comprehensive university established in 1971 as Minnesota Metropolitan State College. MSU is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and its main campus is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, about 10 miles east and slightly south of Minneapolis, MN (where it also has a campus).
MSU offers one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance. This BS requires at least 120 credits, with 24 for business core courses and 24 for finance major courses and electives. The degree provides students with the foundation in accounting, economics, finance, mathematics, and statistics needed to assess risks, calculate returns, create financial plans, determine budgets, make investment decisions, and manage money and assets for businesses, individuals, or organizations. This program also allows students to continue on to graduate studies in a variety of business fields. To help support online students, MSU provides a number of online resources, including academic advising, accounting and finance tutoring, library services, math and stats tutoring, research tools, technical support, and writing assistance. To help with affordability, resident and nonresident online students pay the same tuition rate.
Sample courses: Advanced Corporate Finance; Financial Derivatives; Financial Markets and Institutions; Financial Reporting; Financial Statement Analysis; Insurance and Risk Management; International Finance; Investments and Portfolio Analysis; Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions
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11: University of Minnesota-Crookston
Aerial view of Crookston, Minnesota. (source)
The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) is a four-year public university established in 1905 as the Northwest School of Agriculture. UMC is part of the University of Minnesota system and is located in Crookston, Minnesota, about 290 miles northwest of Minneapolis, MN, but only some 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
UMC has three online Finance programs: one Bachelors, one minor, one certificate. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance requires 120 credits, with 22 for the business core (incl. lower and upper-level accounting, finance, and management courses) and 40 for finance requirements (incl. upper-level accounting, business, and finance courses). This BS utilizes a broad study of finance and complementary business subjects to provide students with the ability to assess financial needs, manage and plan investments, measure financial performance and risk, raise capital, and understand financial markets. For students in other majors who want financial knowledge and skills, UMC has its 28-credit Minor in Finance. For students who are already in the workforce but want to transition to a career in finance, UMC has its 28-29 credit Certificate in Finance. One particular strength of UMC is its job placement rate: over 93% of its students are working in their field of study within six months of graduation.
Sample courses: Corporate Finance; Estate Planning; Insurance and Risk Management; Internship; Investment; Managerial Finance; Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions
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10: Baker College
Baker College in Flint (source)
Baker College is a private, nonprofit college established in 1911, but has roots that go back to 1888 with Muskegon College (which was brought into the same management group with Baker in 1965). Baker College’s main/ flagship campus is in Flint, Michigan, some 65 miles northwest of Detroit, MI. Original name: Baker Business University.
Baker offers one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. This BBA requires 181 quarter hours, with 40 for business requirements and 69 for the finance major. The degree prepares students for careers in corporate finance, financial services, insurance, or investment banking: managing assets, money, and resources for businesses, financial markets, individuals, institutions, or organizations. Baker also has a 24-hour Minor in Finance that should be available for online study, but may only be available for students in certain online BBA majors (check with the college for details or confirmation). One of the unique services Baker offers is its free, lifetime employment assistance. From interview preparation, job postings, and job search techniques, to referrals, relocation tips, and resume assistance, Baker helps its graduates find work at any and every point in their careers.
Sample courses: Banking and Financial Institutions; Credit Analysis and Commercial Lending; Finance Seminar; Financial Markets; Financial Statement Analysis; International Financial Management; Investment Management; Personal Financial Planning; Principles of Finance; Risk Management
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9: SUNY College of Technology at Canton
SUNY College of Technology at Canton (source)
SUNY College of Technology at Canton (SUNY Canton) is a public college established in 1906. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) System and is located in Canton, New York, some 130 miles northeast of Syracuse, NY, and about 115 miles southwest of Montreal, Quebec. Original name: School of Agriculture at St. Lawrence University.
SUNY Canton has one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. This BBA requires 122-124 credits, with 34-49 for finance courses and electives, and 12-27 for program electives. The degree provides students with fundamental knowledge in accounting, business, finance, liberal arts, and management, allowing students to develop the skills needed to conduct financial activities both nationally and internationally. Key financial areas of study include bond and stock valuation, efficient diversification, expected return calculation, financial market analysis, financial ratio computation, futures and options risk hedging, loan and mortgage amortization, and the time value of money. SUNY Canton also has a 19-credit Finance Minor that may be available online (check with the school for details). Military members, veterans, and their dependents have a number of benefits and opportunities available, including concurrent admission, fee waivers, prior credit options, and tuition support.
Sample courses: Financial Compliance and Regulations; Financial Derivatives; Financial Institutions and Markets; Finance Internship; Financial Management; Global Finance; Global Investments; Investment Analysis and Portfolio Theory; Personal Finance; Risk Management
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8: Florida International University
Green Library, Florida International University by Comayagua99 at English Wikipedia (source)
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university that was established in 1965 (opened in 1972) and is located in Miami, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is one of the 10 largest public universities in the United States.
FIU offers one online Finance program — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Finance Major/ Track. This BBA requires 120 credit-hours, with 27 for business core courses, 12 for business electives (which can potentially include finance courses), and 21 for the finance major/ track. The degree is for students who want to work in business, banking, corporate finance, financial planning, insurance, investments, or real estate; or who intend to continue on to graduate studies in a variety of business disciplines. It provides students with analytical and managerial skills, along with knowledge in key areas of finance and the ability to utilize accounting, economic, mathematical, and statistical principles to assess and make financial and money management decisions. In regards to affordability, online students at FIU pay less for tuition and fees than on-campus students. In particular, non-resident online students pay about half the tuition and fees that out-of-state on-campus students do.
Sample courses: Commercial Bank Management; Credit Analysis and Loan Evaluation; Financial Crime; Financial Markets and Institutions; Financial Risk Management – Financial Engineering; Intermediate Finance; International Banking; International Financial Management; Latin American Financial Markets and Institutions; Securities Analysis
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7: Columbia College
Downtown Columbia, MO (source)
Columbia College (CC) is a private, nonprofit college established in 1851 as Christian Female College. Its main campus is in Columbia, Missouri, about 125 miles west and somewhat north of St Louis, MO, and around 125 miles east and slightly south of Kansas City, MO. Columbia College has an affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but admits students of all faiths.
CC has two online Finance programs — the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a Major in Finance. Both the BA and BS require 120 semester hours, with 51 for core requirements (accounting, economics, finance, and management/ business courses) and 18 for the finance major. The two degrees have very similar curriculums and differ primarily in one main aspect: the BA has a 6-hour foreign language requirement, while the BS requires 3 hours of additional business electives and three hours of additional open electives. Both the BA and BS provide students with the ability to perform key financial tasks, including assessing the financial health of organizations, developing financial plans, evaluating investments, managing financial operations, and understanding financial markets and institutions. This prepares them for careers with businesses, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations.
Sample courses: Comprehensive Financial Planning; Corporate Finance; Financial Management; Financial Markets and Institutions; International Finance; Investments; Personal Financial Planning; Risk and Insurance; Small Business Finance; Sports Finance
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6: University of Maryland-University College
Student and Faculty Services Center, University of Maryland University College — by User:Mattysc (source)
The University of Maryland-University College (UMUC) is a public university established in 1947 as the College of Special and Continuation Studies. UMUC is part of the University System of Maryland and has multiple locations, including its headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland, which is about 10 miles northeast of Washington, DC, and some 30 miles southwest of Baltimore, MD.
UMUC offers three online Finance programs: one Bachelors, two minors. Its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance requires 120 credits/ credit-hours, with 36 for the major (incl. 21 for finance courses) and at least 15 for a recommended minor. This BS combines a foundation in accounting, business, and economics with a fundamental understanding of domestic and international finance, financial analysis, and financial planning. This prepares students either for careers assessing or managing the budgets, contracts, or finances of businesses or government departments, or for jobs in financial services helping individuals or organizations with key financial tasks like financial planning, investment management, or portfolio analysis. Finance majors who want to become Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) should take UMUC’s 15-credit Minor in Personal Financial Planning, which qualifies them to sit for the CFP exam. Students in other majors who want to study finance can take UMUC’s 15-credit Minor in Finance.
Sample courses: Business Finance; Contemporary Issues in Finance Practice; Financial Analysis; Financial Management; Money and Banking; Investments; Risk Management; Security Analysis and Valuation
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5: University of Houston-Victoria
University of Houston-Victoria (source)
The University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) is a public university established in 1973. UHV is part of the University of Houston System and is located in Victoria, Texas, about 120 miles southeast of San Antonio, TX, and around 125 miles southwest of Houston, TX. Original name: University of Houston Victoria Center.
UHV has one online Finance degree — its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Concentration in Finance. This BBA requires a minimum of 120 semester-hours, with 64 for the business core and 21 for the finance concentration. The degree provides students with fundamental business administration, finance, and management knowledge. This prepares them either for careers assessing or managing the financial dealings of small or large companies, or for opportunities with financial services firms (incl. banks or brokerage houses) performing such functions as managing investments, selling services, or trading in currencies or futures. The BBA is an online degree completion program that allows students to take upper-division business core courses and finance concentration courses online. Lower-division courses must either be taken on-campus at UHV or online/ on-campus at another institution. The BBA’s capstone course also has a partial in-person requirement: students must attend the case competition in West Houston near the end of the semester.
Sample courses: Business Finance; Capital Markets; Cases in Finance; Fixed Income Analysis; International Finance; Intermediate Financial Management; Investment Principles; Portfolio Management and Security Analysis; Real Estate Finance; Risk Management
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4: Dickinson State University
May Hall, Dickinson State University (source)
Dickinson State University (DSU) is a public university that was established in 1918 as Dickinson State Normal School. DSU is part of the North Dakota University System and is located in Dickinson, North Dakota, about 100 miles west of Bismarck, ND, and about 315 miles northeast of Billings, Montana.
DSU offers one online Finance degree — its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance. This BS requires at least 120 credit hours, with 28 for pre-major courses and 61 for the major: 34 for business core courses, and 27 for finance core courses. The degree combines a study of business management and financial management, while helping students improve their analytical, interpersonal, and professional skills. This prepares them for careers in financial services or helping businesses and other entities improve their organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Online students at DSU have a variety of support services available to them, including a faculty and personal advisor, free Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus access, online academic tutoring, and technology tutorials. To help with affordability, online students, regardless of their state of residence, pay the same tuition rates as in-state, on-campus students (although they also pay an additional access fee).
Sample courses: Business Valuation; Corporate Finance; Financial Institutions and Markets; Financial Statement Analysis; International Finance; Investments; Managerial Finance; Personal Finance
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3: Park University
Park University, Mackay Hall (source)
Third on our list of the most inexpensive online Bachelors degrees in Finance in the U.S. is an offering from Park University, a private, nonprofit university established in 1875. Park’s main campus is located in Parkville, Missouri — a suburb of Kansas City, MO, which is about 10 miles southeast of Parkville.
Park’s online Finance degree offering is its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance. This BS requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, with about 60 for the major: 36 for the business core and 24 for the chosen finance concentration/ track. The Financial Planning Track provides students with the foundation needed to sit for the CFP exam. The Financial Management Track, meanwhile, is for students who either want to become financial managers for businesses, corporations, or government agencies, or who want to pursue finance or management careers in banks, insurance companies, investment firms, or other financial services companies. Students with this BS will also be able to continue on to graduate studies in business administration or finance. Finally, Park has two Business Administration/ Finance Minors — an 18-hour one for business majors and a 21-hour one for non-business majors — that should be available for online study (check with the school to confirm).
Sample courses: Estate Planning; Financial Analysis and Planning; Financial Management; Investment Analysis and Management; Money, Credit, and Banking; Problems in Corporate Finance; Public Financial Management; Retirement and Employee Benefit Planning; Risk and Insurance
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2: National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension
Aerial view of Ellsworth AFB (source)
National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension (NAU-Ellsworth, est. 1974) has the second lowest-cost online Bachelor’s degree in Finance on our list. NAU-Ellsworth is a campus of National American University, a private, for-profit university established in 1941 in Rapid City, South Dakota. This campus is located in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, some 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, and about 395 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado. (Several other NAU campuses also offer economical online Finance Bachelor’s degrees; check the NAU website to find out what is available at locations in your state of residence).
NAU-Ellsworth’s online Finance degree is its Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration (BA) with an Emphasis in Financial Management (FM). This BS requires 180 credits, with 64.5 for the BA core and 27 for the FM emphasis. The degree suits business-oriented students who are interested in management positions within financially related companies (banks, financial services firms, mortgage companies), or finance-focused careers within a variety of companies (incl. brokerage firms, corporations, or insurance agencies). Students with this BS can also pursue graduate studies in a business field. To help working adults and military personnel progress more quickly through this degree and/ or make their education more affordable, NAU allows for credit to be earned for prior military, professional, or work-related learning and experience. Military personnel also receive NAU’s discounted military tuition rate, while their spouses and dependents receive the military family tuition rate.
Sample courses: Business Finance; Corporate Investment Decisions; Financial Case Analysis; Financial Institutions and Markets; Finance Internship; Financial Statement Analysis; International Financial Management; Investments and Portfolio Management; Risk Management and Insurance
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1: University of Houston-Downtown
University of Houston-Downtown Commerce building (source)
The most affordable online Bachelors degree in Finance in the U.S. is offered by the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), 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. The university currently has four campuses, with the main one located in downtown Houston, Texas.
UHD’s online Finance degree is its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance, a degree completion program that requires students to have completed lower-division coursework on-campus or at another institution. This online BBA requires 120 semester credit hours in total, with 48 for the business core and 24 for the finance major (12 for core courses; 12 for a Corporate Finance or Investment Management Track). Students with this BBA will be able to perform various finance-related tasks (incl. ensuring regulatory compliance, managing finances or investments, and providing financial or technological solutions that improve productivity) for banks, businesses, financial services companies, individuals, or nonprofits. They will also be able to pursue graduate studies and/ or such professional designations as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). UHD’s 18-hour Finance Minor may also be available online (check with UHD for details).
Sample courses: Advanced Financial Management; Cases in Managerial Finance; Financial Planning; Intermediate Corporate Finance; Investments; Money, Markets, and Institutions; Portfolio Management; Real Estate Finance; Small Business Finance; Treasury Risk Management
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NOTES
- In terms of topic categories searched in the NCES.ed.gov database, we queried only for programs in “Finance, General”. However, interdisciplinary programs might be mentioned in a school’s ranking, if available.
- For online degree rankings, if a college does not report graduation rate, it is shown as 0% for that institution, for the purposes of charting and statistical summaries.
- A college’s tuition for online programs may differ than that quoted for the on-campus program. This could be due to either or both of technology fees and out-of-state-portion waivers. Check with a college if you’re unsure. We have listed the tuition and net price values recorded in the NCES.ed.gov database.
- As accreditation can change or only be valid regionally, please verify accreditation of any college to which you are planning to apply.
- 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.
- Online programs are strongly self-directed and recommended only for students who are self-driven when it comes to studying and researching.
- Some online program selection tips:
- Spend the time to carefully read the degree requirements.
- Browse the course curriculum and make notes of the courses that interest you most.
- Consider creating a spreadsheet to compare summaries of course/ programs across the schools referenced here. If you are looking for a minimum set of courses, make a list of those courses, one per column. Then list ranked schools vertically in the spreadsheet, one per row. Color code or make an annotation for each course offered by a given school.
- Add other columns to record information about tuition, net price, #credits/ courses required, etc., and color code their cells as suitable.
- This visual approach to online program selection can be quite effective compared to staring at bare numbers.
- The methodology for this series on online bachelor’s degrees is essentially the same as for our 15-school college rankings list. For example, 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 topical bachelor’s list.
