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
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance | 639 | 41,982 | 74% / 26% | 6% | $86,194 |
| Finance | 619 | 40,279 | 74% / 26% | 6% | $85,523 |
| Finance, Investment, and Banking | 1 | 306 | 72% / 28% | 7% | $154,505 |
| Financial Planning and Services | 25 | 245 | 76% / 24% | 1% | $89,541 |
| Financial Analytics | 4 | 221 | 67% / 33% | 6% | |
| Personal Financial Planning | 5 | 165 | 75% / 25% | 1% | $85,468 |
| Consumer Finance and Financial Planning | 1 | 164 | 77% / 23% | 2% | $154,505 |
| Financial Planning | 17 | 136 | 74% / 26% | 3% | $80,281 |
| Investments and Securities | 5 | 96 | 77% / 23% | 15% | $75,871 |
| Consumer and Family Financial Services | 1 | 62 | 82% / 18% | 2% | $71,212 |
| Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics | 1 | 61 | 74% / 26% | 2% | $71,030 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 2 | 57 | 63% / 37% | 7% | $74,702 |
| Banking and Financial Economics | 1 | 51 | 88% / 12% | 0% | $72,289 |
| Banking and Finance | 2 | 33 | 36% / 64% | 0% | $67,630 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 2 | 26 | 77% / 23% | 4% | |
| Financial Services | 1 | 23 | 65% / 35% | 4% | $84,995 |
| Public Finance | 1 | 23 | 65% / 35% | 9% | |
| Financial Counseling and Planning | 1 | 15 | 67% / 33% | 0% | |
| Banking and Financial Services | 1 | 7 | 86% / 14% | 0% | $79,709 |
| Investments | 1 | 5 | 100% / 0% | 0% | $80,725 |
| Transportation, Logistics, and Finance | 1 | 3 | 67% / 33% | 0% | $84,453 |
| Financial Management | 1 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 50% | |
| Financial Quantitative Analytics | 1 | 2 | 50% / 50% | 0% | $57,206 |