Best colleges for Finance and Financial Management Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Finance and Financial Management Services by graduate earnings are Georgetown University ($106,218), Washington University in St Louis ($102,814) and University of Notre Dame ($99,222), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Georgetown University (Washington, DC): $106,218, 378 graduates a year
- Washington University in St Louis (St. Louis, MO): $102,814, 185 graduates a year
- University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): $99,222, 307 graduates a year
- Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC): $85,944, 143 graduates a year
- Brigham Young University (Provo, UT): $83,876, 196 graduates a year
Compare 851 U.S. colleges offering Finance and Financial Management Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 52 states.
Finance and Financial Management Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,434 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.08 and the Financial Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Finance and Financial Management Services programs
The Finance and Financial Management Services program prepares students for careers in the dynamic field of finance. This program is ideal for individuals interested in managing financial resources, analyzing investments, and providing financial advice to businesses and individuals. Students will explore various specializations, including banking, financial planning, and international finance.
Learn more about Finance and Financial Management Services →
In this program, students will develop essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework covers topics such as customer service, economics, and financial management, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary to succeed in various financial roles.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $106,218 | 378 | 95% | $22,242 | $16,877 |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $102,814 | 185 | 94% | $14,126 | $19,250 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $99,222 | 307 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 4 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,944 | 143 | 89% | $20,914 | $19,500 |
| 5 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,876 | 196 | 81% | $13,712 | $11,750 |
| 6 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,505 | 61 | 75% | $30,225 | $22,625 |
| 7 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,159 | 261 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,500 |
| 8 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,495 | 271 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 9 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,008 | 208 | 92% | $33,774 | $26,197 |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,844 | 433 | 89% | — | $20,500 |
| 11 | Howard University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,074 | 102 | 70% | $48,194 | $19,959 |
| 12 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,929 | 226 | 88% | $44,094 | $16,201 |
| 13 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,453 | 302 | 86% | $25,823 | $19,500 |
| 14 | Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, LA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,806 | 429 | 86% | $33,106 | $21,500 |
| 15 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,720 | 162 | 88% | $26,912 | $23,250 |
| 16 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,689 | 376 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 17 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,381 | 278 | 85% | — | $19,500 |
| 18 | George Washington University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,833 | 86 | 84% | $29,789 | $19,000 |
| 19 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,598 | 132 | 82% | — | $15,000 |
| 20 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,819 | 143 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 21 | Bentley University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,309 | 382 | 87% | $31,677 | $26,000 |
| 22 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,409 | 454 | 84% | — | $16,880 |
| 23 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,203 | 469 | 80% | — | $22,000 |
| 24 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $70,663 | 314 | 91% | — | $17,954 |
| 25 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,542 | 147 | 79% | $36,488 | $19,500 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Graduate degree | $107,359 | 33 | 85% | — | $21,937 |
Specializations within Finance and Financial Management Services
9 of the 9 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.08 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- FinanceCIP 52.080149,441 graduates / yr753 institutions52 states
- Financial Planning and ServicesCIP 52.08044,744 graduates / yr94 institutions37 states
- Banking and Financial Support ServicesCIP 52.08031,011 graduates / yr76 institutions29 states
- Investments and SecuritiesCIP 52.0807348 graduates / yr24 institutions17 states
- Finance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 52.0899273 graduates / yr36 institutions20 states
- Public FinanceCIP 52.0808partial data36 graduates / yr4 institutions4 states
- International FinanceCIP 52.0806partial data34 graduates / yr3 institutions3 states
- Credit ManagementCIP 52.0809partial data6 graduates / yr3 institutions3 states
- Financial Risk ManagementCIP 52.0810New in CIP 2020limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Offered across 52 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3031, Financial Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Finance and Financial Management Services program can pursue a range of careers in finance, with a much faster than average job growth rate of 14.8%. With approximately 74,600 annual job openings and a median wage of $161,700, a bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Finance and Financial Management Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.08.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.08 (Finance and Financial Management Services) maps to 21 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-1011 | Chief Executives |
| 11-1021 | General and Operations Managers |
| 11-3031 | Financial Managersprimary |
| 13-1141 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists |
| 13-2022 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property |
| 13-2031 | Budget Analysts |
| 13-2041 | Credit Analysts |
| 13-2051 | Financial and Investment Analysts |
| 13-2052 | Personal Financial Advisors |
| 13-2053 | Insurance Underwriters |
| 13-2054 | Financial Risk Specialists |
| 13-2071 | Credit Counselors |
| 13-2072 | Loan Officers |
| 13-2099 | Financial Specialists, All Other |
| 25-1011 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 41-3031 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents |
| 43-3011 | Bill and Account Collectors |
| 43-3071 | Tellers |
| 43-4041 | Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks |
| 43-4131 | Loan Interviewers and Clerks |
| 43-4141 | New Accounts Clerks |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Finance and Financial Management Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Recruit staff members.
- Evaluate data pertaining to costs to plan budgets.
- Oversee training programs.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Finance, Banking, Financial Planning, International Finance, Investments, Public Finance, Credit Management, and Financial Risk Management.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for finance graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 14.8% and around 74,600 annual openings.
What is the typical education required for a career in finance?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in finance.
How much do Finance and Financial Management Services graduates earn?+
Finance and Financial Management Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,434, College Scorecard (2019); the Financial Managers occupation pays about $186,910 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Finance and Financial Management Services?+
Finance and Financial Management Services maps to CIP 52.08 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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