Best degree programs for Financial Examiners, ranked by enrollment
4 college programs and 1,386 schools train Financial Examiners. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $94,160 median wage, 67,830 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
4 college programs at 1,386 schools train financial examiners, graduating 62,132 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Accounting. The job pays a median of $94,160 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About financial examiners
Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
4 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.0301 | 60,383 | 97.2% | 1,352 | $51,824 | $24,433 |
| 2 | CIP 52.1601 | 1,257 | 2.0% | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | CIP 43.0405 | 284 | 0.5% | 29 | $40,889 | $25,000 |
| 4 | CIP 52.0303 | 208 | 0.3% | 17 | $51,824 | $24,433 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 2,297 | Accounting | 46% | $11,580 | — |
| 2 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 1,690 | Accounting | 43% | $34,565 | 100% |
| 3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · 2 feeder programs | 756 | Accounting | 72% | — | 48% |
| 4 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 573 | Accounting | 21% | $15,478 | — |
| 5 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 534 | Accounting | 45% | — | — |
| 6 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 486 | Accounting | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 7 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 484 | Accounting | 84% | — | 57% |
| 8 | Colorado Technical University - Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 396 | Accounting | 19% | $16,966 | — |
| 9 | Dallas College Dallas, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 378 | Accounting | 32% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 374 | Accounting | 90% | — | 38% |
| 11 | DeVry University - Illinois Lisle, IL Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 370 | Accounting | 37% | $32,381 | 98% |
| 12 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 2 feeder programs | 367 | Accounting | 63% | — | 66% |
| 13 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder programs | 365 | Accounting | 88% | — | 61% |
| 14 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 359 | Accounting | 43% | $21,535 | 79% |
| 15 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 359 | Accounting | 73% | — | 77% |
| 16 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 352 | Accounting | 65% | — | 74% |
| 17 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · 2 feeder programs | 334 | Accounting | 72% | — | 97% |
| 18 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder programs | 326 | Accounting | 50% | — | — |
| 19 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 326 | Accounting | 77% | — | 43% |
| 20 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 309 | Accounting | 80% | $35,682 | 51% |
| 21 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 309 | Accounting | 61% | — | 72% |
| 22 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 300 | Accounting | 85% | — | 42% |
| 23 | Florida International University Miami, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 299 | Accounting | 74% | — | 55% |
| 24 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 299 | Accounting | 33% | — | 90% |
| 25 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs | 278 | Accounting | 68% | — | 90% |
| 26 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 278 | Accounting | 82% | — | 46% |
| 27 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · 1 feeder programs | 275 | Accounting | 86% | — | 61% |
| 28 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 274 | Accounting | 69% | — | 73% |
| 29 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 274 | Accounting | 83% | — | 60% |
| 30 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder programs | 266 | Accounting | 78% | — | 40% |
| 31 | Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 264 | Accounting | — | — | 98% |
| 32 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · 1 feeder programs | 261 | Accounting | 75% | — | 77% |
| 33 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 260 | Accounting | 55% | — | 89% |
| 34 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 260 | Accounting | 74% | — | 42% |
| 35 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 254 | Accounting | 71% | — | 74% |
| 36 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 253 | Accounting | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 37 | Clemson University Clemson, SC Public · 1 feeder programs | 252 | Accounting | 87% | — | 38% |
| 38 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · 1 feeder programs | 251 | Accounting | 52% | — | 69% |
| 39 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 249 | Accounting | 57% | — | 93% |
| 40 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs | 243 | Accounting | 68% | — | 86% |
| 41 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 1 feeder programs | 242 | Accounting | 69% | — | 93% |
| 42 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · 1 feeder programs | 241 | Accounting | 33% | — | — |
| 43 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · 1 feeder programs | 241 | Accounting | 65% | — | 86% |
| 44 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 233 | Accounting | 89% | — | 27% |
| 45 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · 1 feeder programs | 228 | Accounting | 51% | — | 96% |
| 46 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TX Public · 1 feeder programs | 225 | Accounting | 51% | — | 94% |
| 47 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 222 | Accounting | 85% | — | 39% |
| 48 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 222 | Accounting | 60% | — | 87% |
| 49 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder programs | 221 | Accounting | 90% | — | 45% |
| 50 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · 1 feeder programs | 216 | Accounting | 82% | — | 39% |
What financial examiners earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $78,140 | 5,230 | 0.85× | 77 | 6,479 |
| New York | $128,920 | 13,480 | 3.19× | 75 | 4,373 |
| Utah | $92,000 | 960 | 1.27× | 12 | 3,639 |
| Florida | $76,230 | 4,190 | 0.97× | 39 | 2,777 |
| Illinois | $93,150 | 4,050 | 1.52× | 68 | 2,414 |
| Ohio | $69,040 | 3,680 | 1.52× | 59 | 2,354 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,500 | 2,590 | 0.98× | 83 | 2,347 |
| Arizona | $80,260 | 1,910 | 1.35× | 25 | 2,169 |
| New Hampshire | $80,810 | 130 | 0.44× | 13 | 1,819 |
| Georgia | $77,710 | 1,450 | 0.68× | 34 | 1,629 |
| New Jersey | $106,410 | 2,190 | 1.17× | 29 | 1,598 |
| California | $106,000 | 4,200 | 0.53× | 68 | 1,588 |
| Michigan | $71,050 | 710 | 0.37× | 39 | 1,556 |
| Virginia | $104,060 | 1,280 | 0.71× | 26 | 1,456 |
| Wisconsin | $86,320 | 580 | 0.45× | 45 | 1,379 |
| Minnesota | $104,260 | 1,280 | 1.00× | 48 | 1,348 |
| Massachusetts | $111,110 | 950 | 0.60× | 39 | 1,292 |
| North Carolina | $100,730 | 2,610 | 1.21× | 34 | 1,280 |
| Indiana | $81,300 | 420 | 0.30× | 38 | 1,212 |
| Colorado | $99,610 | 1,910 | 1.53× | 23 | 1,198 |
| South Carolina | $86,440 | 480 | 0.48× | 35 | 1,171 |
| Washington | $113,700 | 420 | 0.27× | 18 | 1,147 |
| Missouri | $79,990 | 2,290 | 1.79× | 30 | 1,100 |
| Connecticut | $120,530 | — | — | 14 | 1,002 |
| Tennessee | $87,110 | 500 | 0.35× | 28 | 1,002 |
| Iowa | $80,370 | 1,020 | 1.51× | 35 | 939 |
| Maryland | $102,980 | 350 | 0.29× | 21 | 849 |
| Louisiana | $84,310 | 240 | 0.28× | 21 | 831 |
| Kentucky | $76,260 | 640 | 0.73× | 20 | 788 |
| Kansas | $80,420 | 470 | 0.75× | 21 | 778 |
| Mississippi | $85,430 | 420 | 0.83× | 16 | 773 |
| Oklahoma | $80,760 | 400 | 0.53× | 20 | 740 |
| Oregon | $94,630 | 820 | 0.96× | 20 | 631 |
| Arkansas | $57,590 | 540 | 0.94× | 26 | 604 |
| Idaho | $85,260 | 210 | 0.57× | 7 | 485 |
| West Virginia | $60,590 | 240 | 0.78× | 16 | 365 |
| Rhode Island | $94,130 | 320 | 1.48× | 9 | 358 |
| Nebraska | $74,460 | 840 | 1.88× | 13 | 318 |
| Nevadamoderate | $84,650 | 180 | 0.27× | 4 | 310 |
| Delaware | $92,390 | 430 | 2.01× | 5 | 266 |
| North Dakota | $82,640 | 220 | 1.16× | 7 | 211 |
| New Mexico | $67,950 | 220 | 0.59× | 10 | 206 |
| Maine | $80,840 | 230 | 0.83× | 12 | 201 |
| South Dakota | $88,690 | 150 | 0.78× | 12 | 201 |
| District of Columbia | $198,720 | 470 | 1.52× | 9 | 169 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $62,720 | 270 | 0.98× | 3 | 137 |
| Montana | $80,970 | 140 | 0.63× | 7 | 123 |
| Vermont | $74,680 | 170 | 1.28× | 6 | 115 |
| Alaskalimited | $90,530 | 50 | 0.32× | 2 | 63 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Direct and participate in formal and informal meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, counsels, outside accountants, and consultants to gather information and discuss findings.
- Recommend actions to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, or to protect solvency of institutions.
- Prepare reports, exhibits, and other supporting schedules that detail an institution's safety and soundness, compliance with laws and regulations, and recommended solutions to questionable financial conditions.
- Resolve problems concerning the overall financial integrity of banking institutions including loan investment portfolios, capital, earnings, and specific or large troubled accounts.
- Investigate activities of institutions to enforce laws and regulations and to ensure legality of transactions and operations or financial solvency.
- Review balance sheets, operating income and expense accounts, and loan documentation to confirm institution assets and liabilities.
- Plan, supervise, and review work of assigned subordinates.
- Review audit reports of internal and external auditors to monitor adequacy of scope of reports or to discover specific weaknesses in internal routines.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Mathematics3.6
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.3
- Economics and Accounting4.1
- Law and Government3.2
- Mathematics3.1
- Administration and Management3.0
- Computers and Electronics2.6
Abilities
- Written Comprehension4.3
- Oral Expression4.1
- Inductive Reasoning4.1
- Deductive Reasoning4.1
- Near Vision4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
Core activities
- Getting Information4.7
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.7
- Analyzing Data or Information4.5
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.5
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.1
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Financial Examiner
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 5 majors mapped to Financial Examiners4 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 43.0121Suspension and Debarment Investigation(no graduates reported)
- 43.0405Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation
- 52.0301Accounting
- 52.0303Auditing
- 52.1601Taxation
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Financial Examiner?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Accounting, which awarded 60,383 degrees in 2024-25, 97.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Financial Examiner?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 4 programs to this occupation. The largest are Accounting and Related Services, Taxation, Security Science and Technology. Together they graduate about 62,132 people a year.
How much do financial examiners earn?+
The median is $94,160 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $56,230 at the 10th percentile to $174,200 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for financial examiners growing?+
BLS projects a +18.5% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 5,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
1,386 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 4 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do financial examiners work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Bank Examiner, Examining Officer, Credit Union Examiner, Bank Secrecy Act Anti-Money Laundering Officer (BSA/AML Officer) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 13-2061.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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