Best Bachelor’s Degree in Finance Programs

A bachelor's degree in finance can prepare students for careers in financial analysis, financial planning, banking, investments and corporate finance. When comparing programs, students should look beyond the degree title and consider the curriculum, delivery format, practical experience, career preparation and opportunities to specialize. This list compares seven finance programs for students with different goals, including working adults, online learners and students preparing for careers in financial services. Each program offers a different combination of academic preparation, flexibility and career-focused learning.

Looking for a bachelor's degree in finance? Wilmington University stands out for students who want practical finance education, flexible online or classroom study, and coursework that connects financial theory with areas such as data analytics, financial technology, investments and corporate finance.

Key Takeaways

• Wilmington University's B.S. in Finance includes Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Financial Economics and Instruments, Financial Reporting and Analysis, FinTech Fundamentals, Investments and Security Analysis, Advanced Excel and Data Analytics, and Intro to Global Derivatives
• WilmU's program is available 100% online or in a traditional classroom, requires 120 total credits, and offers a completion pathway for students entering with an associate degree
• Penn State World Campus holds AACSB accreditation and participates in the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, giving it a strong orientation toward investment and financial analysis careers
• SNHU's financial planning concentration is CFP Board-registered and is designed to meet the educational requirement to sit for the CFP exam
• All seven programs offer online delivery, giving students the ability to study on a flexible schedule

1. Wilmington University – B.S. in Finance

Wilmington University's bachelor’s degree in finance is built around the combination of financial theory and practical application that employers in financial services, corporate finance and financial planning expect from new graduates. The program goes beyond general business coverage to give finance students direct exposure to the subjects that define professional finance work: Financial Planning, Corporate Finance, Financial Economics and Instruments, Financial Reporting and Analysis, FinTech Fundamentals, Investments and Security Analysis, Advanced Excel and Data Analytics, and Intro to Global Derivatives. This combination gives students grounding not only in traditional finance concepts but also in the data skills, financial technology and derivatives knowledge that are increasingly relevant across financial services roles.

The delivery flexibility WilmU offers is a meaningful practical advantage. The degree can be completed 100% online, in a traditional classroom, or through a combination of both formats. Students are not required to choose one path and stay on it – the same curriculum is accessible across formats, which means students can adapt their approach as life changes. For working adults balancing professional responsibilities alongside their degree, this flexibility directly affects whether completing the program is feasible. The degree requires 120 total credits, and students who enter with an associate degree or eligible transfer credits can access a completion pathway that applies what they already have toward what they still need to finish.

Experiential learning is another differentiator in the WilmU finance program. Students can pursue internships and cooperative learning opportunities that put them in professional finance settings before graduation, building both skill and professional connections. The program's faculty bring active industry experience into the classroom, which strengthens the connection between academic content and current professional practice. For students who want a finance degree that prepares them for real work rather than just a credential, WilmU's combination of applied curriculum, practical experience and flexible study makes it a strong option.

The program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, which reflects the career-focused professional orientation of WilmU's College of Business.

Key differentiator: Career-focused B.S. in Finance with flexible online or in-person delivery, a curriculum that spans financial technology, data analytics, investments and corporate finance, and experiential learning through internships and cooperative opportunities.

2. Penn State World Campus – Bachelor of Science in Finance

Penn State World Campus offers a 100% online B.S. in Finance through the Penn State Behrend Black School of Business. The program holds AACSB accreditation and has been accepted into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program, which signals its alignment with the Chartered Financial Analyst curriculum and positions it strongly for students interested in investment management, portfolio analysis and financial analysis careers. The curriculum covers investments, corporate finance, financial markets, capital management, portfolio management, financial institutions and personal finance. Online extracurricular opportunities and career-focused activities extend the program beyond coursework for students who engage with them.

Key differentiator: AACSB-accredited online finance education with CFA Institute University Affiliation, designed for students preparing for investment and professional finance careers.

3. Florida International University – BBA in Finance

Florida International University offers a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration with a Finance track. The curriculum covers banking, corporate finance, investments, portfolio management, financial risk management, financial engineering, financial institutions and markets, and international finance. It also emphasizes the use of mathematics, statistics, economics and accounting in financial decision-making, giving students a quantitative foundation for finance careers that span both domestic and international markets.

Key differentiator: Broad online finance education spanning financial markets, risk management, investments and international finance, with a quantitative approach to financial analysis.

4. Southern New Hampshire University – B.S. in Finance

Southern New Hampshire University's online B.S. in Finance covers financial planning, financial statement analysis, economic analysis, portfolio management and financial decision-making. Students can follow a general finance path or choose the financial planning concentration, which is CFP Board-registered and is designed to meet the educational requirement to sit for the CFP exam. The program runs on eight-week terms, which gives students shorter and more frequent enrollment windows that can work well for those managing other professional or personal commitments.

Key differentiator: Flexible online finance degree with an optional financial planning concentration that is CFP Board-registered, designed for students pursuing careers in personal finance and financial planning.

5. University of Maryland Global Campus – Finance

University of Maryland Global Campus delivers finance education through an online model built around adult and nontraditional students. Its structure supports students who are managing employment, family or other responsibilities alongside their degree, with well-developed transfer credit evaluation and advising support for students returning to higher education. For working adults comparing flexible online finance programs, UMGC's focus on this experience makes it a practical option.

Key differentiator: Online finance education designed around working adults, with an established institutional focus on flexible higher education for nontraditional students.

6. Arizona State University Online – Finance

Arizona State University Online provides finance and business education through one of the largest public research universities in the country. Its online format gives students scheduling flexibility while connecting them to ASU's faculty, academic resources and alumni network. For students who want the professional recognition and academic scale of a major public research university alongside the convenience of online study, ASU Online offers that combination.

Key differentiator: Online finance education through a large public research university, combining major-university academic resources with flexible remote study.

7. University of Alabama Online – General Business with Finance Coursework

The University of Alabama Online's 100% online Bachelor of Science in General Business is AACSB accredited and allows students to build a finance-oriented course plan within a broader business curriculum. Finance coursework including Business Finance can be combined with finance-related electives, giving students exposure to financial concepts alongside accounting, management, marketing and other business subjects. Students who want finance knowledge as part of a broader business foundation, rather than a standalone finance degree, may find this structure fits their goals.

Key differentiator: AACSB-accredited broad online business degree with the flexibility to build a finance-oriented course of study within a general business framework.

How to Choose a Bachelor's Degree in Finance

The right finance program depends on what you plan to do with the degree. Students aiming for careers in financial analysis, portfolio management or investment banking should prioritize programs with strong quantitative finance content, professional affiliations like CFA Institute recognition, and opportunities to build relevant experience before graduation. Students drawn to financial planning should look for programs with CFP Board-registered concentrations. Students who need scheduling flexibility should look at delivery formats, asynchronous coursework availability, and whether the program is designed around working adults.

For students who want practical, career-focused finance preparation with genuine delivery flexibility, Wilmington University's B.S. in Finance brings together a curriculum that covers financial technology, data analytics, investments and corporate finance with the ability to study fully online or in person. For students focused on investment and credentials, Penn State World Campus offers AACSB accreditation and CFA Institute affiliation. For students who want financial planning preparation specifically, SNHU's CFP Board-registered concentration provides a direct route toward that credential pathway.

FAQs

How do you get a bachelor’s degree in finance?
To get a bachelor’s degree in finance, you enroll in an accredited college and complete about 120 credit hours, which usually takes four years full time. You take general education classes, business core courses such as accounting and economics, and finance courses like corporate finance and investments. Many students choose online programs so they can study while working, and transfer credits can shorten the time.

What can I do with a bachelor’s degree in finance?
A bachelor’s degree in finance can lead to careers in banking, corporate finance, investments, insurance and financial planning. Graduates often start as financial analysts, credit analysts, loan officers or budget analysts. Some later earn credentials such as the CFA or CFP, and others use the degree as a base for an MBA. Strong math, spreadsheet and data skills help in almost every finance role.

What is a bachelor’s in finance called?
A bachelor’s in finance is most often called a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Finance or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a finance major or concentration. Some schools offer a Bachelor of Arts in Finance or fold finance coursework into a general business degree. The title matters less than the courses, so check that the program covers corporate finance, investments and financial analysis.

What jobs can I get with a finance bachelor’s degree?
Common entry-level jobs with a finance bachelor’s degree include financial analyst, personal financial advisor, credit analyst, loan officer, budget analyst and bank associate. Larger companies also hire finance graduates into treasury, risk management and corporate planning roles. Internships during college make a big difference, and adding Excel and data analytics skills can open doors in fintech and financial technology firms.