Best institutions to study International Finance
A program that prepares individuals to manage international financial operations and related currency transactions.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 34 International Finance students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0806, a specialization of Finance and Financial Management Services (CIP 52.08), and leads most directly to the Financial Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-3031).
About International Finance programs
A program that prepares individuals to manage international financial operations and related currency transactions. Includes instruction in international banking, international monetary and financial policy, money and capital markets, foreign exchange, risk analysis, and international cash flow operations.
See also: 45.0605 - International Economics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The International Finance program, part of the Finance and Financial Management Services field, prepares individuals to manage international financial operations and currency transactions. It is designed for those interested in navigating the complexities of global finance, including banking and monetary policy.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in areas such as international banking, risk analysis, and cash flow operations. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication, equipping graduates to tackle financial challenges in a global context.
Credentials awarded
What International Finance graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate34 graduates / yr · 3 institutions100%
Graduates over time
International Finance completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 43 |
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 47 |
| 2015 | 56 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 53 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2021 | 123 |
| 2022 | 93 |
| 2023 | 141 |
| 2024 | 124 |
| 2025 | 34 |
Top 3 institutions for International Finance, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicPost-degree cert. | 21 | 79% | — | $62,231 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 10 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 3 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 41% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Finance and Financial Management Services field (CIP 52.08) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where International Finance graduates come from. Each state links to all Finance and Financial Management Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 1 | 21 | University of South Carolina - Columbia21 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 10 | University of Chicago10 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 3 | Empire State University3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3031, Financial Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the International Finance program can pursue careers as Financial Managers, Financial and Investment Analysts, and Financial Risk Specialists. With a median wage of $161,700 and an expected job growth rate of 14.8%, the field offers approximately 74,600 annual openings, making it a promising career choice.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0806
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Financial Managersprimary SOC 11-3031 | $166,570 | +14.8% Much faster than average | ~74,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Financial and Investment Analysts SOC 13-2051 | $102,740 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~25,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Business Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1011 | $99,080 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~8,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Financial Risk Specialists SOC 13-2054 | $117,330 | +6.5% Faster than average | ~4,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in International Finance programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Finance and Financial Management Services specializations
The 8 other 6-digit CIP codes under Finance and Financial Management Services (CIP 52.08).
- FinanceCIP 52.080149,441 graduates / yr753 institutions
- Financial Planning and ServicesCIP 52.08044,744 graduates / yr94 institutions
- Banking and Financial Support ServicesCIP 52.08031,011 graduates / yr76 institutions
- Investments and SecuritiesCIP 52.0807348 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Finance and Financial Management ServicesCIP 52.0899273 graduates / yr36 institutions
- Public FinanceCIP 52.0808partial data36 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Credit ManagementCIP 52.0809partial data6 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Financial Risk ManagementCIP 52.0810limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Finance and Financial Management Services programs →
Common questions
What credentials do I earn from this program?+
You will earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
How many colleges in the U.S. offer this program?+
There are 3 colleges offering the International Finance program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for careers in International Finance?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 14.8%.
What is the CIP code for International Finance?+
International Finance is CIP 52.0806 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Finance and Financial Management Services (CIP 52.08). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to manage international financial operations and related currency transactions. Includes instruction in international banking, international monetary and financial policy, money and capital markets, foreign exchange, risk analysis, and international cash flow operations.
How many institutions offer International Finance programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported International Finance graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 34 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Finance and Financial Management Services graduates.
How much do International Finance graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Financial Managers occupation, which International Finance most directly leads to, pays a median of $166,570 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Finance and Financial Management Services field report median earnings of $62,231 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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