Finance graduates earn $83,343 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 9.7%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Financial Manager is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Finance as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Business and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Finance is a focused area of study within Business. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $83,343 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 949 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 58,013 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The curriculum blends analytical and applied coursework aimed at the workplace.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$53,707
Median Earnings · 4yr
$83,343
Colleges Offering
949
Graduates / Year
58,013
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,826
How Much Do Finance Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Finance, a typical graduate earns $83,343, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $60,801 and $111,527, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $53,707 at one year out to $83,343 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$83,343
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$77,436
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Finance graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Industry and seniority explain most of the spread. Finance, consulting, and strategy roles pull the top end up; operations and administrative roles sit at the bottom.
$60,80125th pct.
$83,343Median
$111,52775th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $83,343 against an estimated $79,304 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 766 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 58,013 students who complete Finance programs each year, the majority (87%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
87%
Bachelor's87%
Master's8%
Doctorate3%
What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Finance graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Chief Executives pay the most at $213,990/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Judgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingSystems EvaluationManagement of Personnel Resources
Day-to-day responsibilities
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
Reading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.
Establish and maintain relationships with individual or business customers or provide assistance with problems these customers may encounter.
Oversee the flow of cash or financial instruments.
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of workers in branches, offices, or departments of establishments, such as branch banks, brokerage firms, risk and insurance departments, or credit departments.
Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.
Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.
Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.
Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as financial accounting, principles of marketing, and operations management.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
MathematicsCritical ThinkingSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
Analyze monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
Provide advice and technical assistance with cost analysis, fiscal allocation, and budget preparation.
Review operating budgets to analyze trends affecting budget needs.
Top Colleges for Finance
Not sure where to study Finance? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Finance graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Business Programs
Finance is not the only path through Business: 21 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Finance program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Finance a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $83,343 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $53,707 at graduation to $83,343 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +9.7% over the next decade, with Financial Manager among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 426,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Finance Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Finance graduates earn?
$83,343 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $60,801 and $111,527, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Finance degree?
$53,707 in the first year out. That grows to $83,343 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Finance degree?
Chief Executives are one path, and it pays a median of $213,990 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Finance program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Finance bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Finance?
949 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Finance degree worth it?
$83,343 median earnings four years out against $19,826 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Finance and Business?
Finance is the narrower of the two: Business covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Finance-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Finance graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Finance graduates consistently look for financial analysis, communication, project management, and strategic thinking. Internship experience and proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or business software tend to set candidates apart. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Finance graduates?
It depends on the program. An MBA or specialized master's can boost earnings and open paths into management and strategy roles, but the return is strongest at selective schools with strong recruiting pipelines, not everywhere. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Finance graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.2% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Financial Manager is among the strongest-growth roles at +9.7%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Business Programs
Other programs in Business. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
Yes, most schools allow it, but the schedule math rarely works without either overlapping requirements or extra time. Here's when it actually fits in four years.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.