Best institutions to study Public Finance
A program that prepares individuals to manage the financial assets and budgets of public sector organizations.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 36 Public Finance students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 52.0808, 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 Public Finance programs
A program that prepares individuals to manage the financial assets and budgets of public sector organizations. Includes instruction in public trusts and investments; the laws and procedures used to plan, prepare and administer public agency budgets; and the preparation and analysis of public budget projections and policies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Public Finance program, part of the Finance and Financial Management Services field, prepares individuals to effectively manage the financial assets and budgets of public sector organizations. This program is designed for those interested in understanding the complexities of public budgeting, investments, and financial management within governmental and nonprofit entities.
Students in the Public Finance program will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically covers public trusts, budget preparation, and the laws governing public agency finances, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to analyze and manage public financial resources.
Credentials awarded
What Public Finance graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree20 graduates / yr · 1 institution56%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate11 graduates / yr · 3 institutions31%
- Master's degree5 graduates / yr · 1 institution14%
Graduates over time
Public Finance completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 50 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 63 |
| 2025 | 36 |
Top 4 institutions for Public 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 | Niagara University Niagara University, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 25 | 75% | $17,048 | — |
| 2 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicPost-degree cert. | 7 | 67% | — | — |
| 3 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 3 | 84% | $29,789 | $73,833 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 86% | — | $66,601 |
* 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 4 states
Where Public 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 25 | Niagara University25 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 7 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins7 / yr |
| District of Columbia | 1 | 3 | George Washington University3 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-3031, Financial Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Public Finance program can pursue various careers, including roles as Financial Managers and Budget Analysts. The job outlook for these positions is promising, with a projected growth rate of 14.8% and approximately 74,600 annual openings. The median wage for financial managers is $161,700, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 52.0808
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 |
Budget Analysts SOC 13-2031 | $91,640 | +1.0% Little or no change | ~3,100 | 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 Public 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
- International FinanceCIP 52.0806partial data34 graduates / yr3 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 degrees are offered in Public Finance?+
The program offers a Bachelor's degree, a Postbaccalaureate certificate, and a Master's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Public Finance?+
You can work as a Financial Manager, Budget Analyst, or in other finance-related roles.
What is the job outlook for Public Finance graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 14.8% and 74,600 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Public Finance?+
Public Finance is CIP 52.0808 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 the financial assets and budgets of public sector organizations. Includes instruction in public trusts and investments; the laws and procedures used to plan, prepare and administer public agency budgets; and the preparation and analysis of public budget projections and policies.
How many institutions offer Public Finance programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Public Finance graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 36 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Finance and Financial Management Services graduates.
How much do Public Finance graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Financial Managers occupation, which Public 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 $73,833 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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