Online and Distance Learning

Finance degree programs lead to many career options with positive outlooks. This page helps you find out more about the programs, what the courses are, and what you can expect to earn.

Every business has a necessity for an individual with expertise in finance. Some of the different fields that relate to this are accounting, credit analysis, financial planning and financial analysis. The formations of new businesses in the future will greatly increase the demand for financial education to ensure the success of the businesses.

Depending on your qualifications, you might be interested in online finance bachelor degree programs or finance masters programs.  You will find details here.

If you want to take a finance program on-campus instead of online then go to the on-campus section of the web site.

Which schools offer online finance programs

Most schools offer programs in finance.  You will find that you can take it as a full degree or as a major in finance. The following are a few selected schools which offer accredited online programs that may be suitable for you:

• Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University
  • MBA with Specialization in Finance
  • Master's - Accounting and Financial Management
  • Graduate Certificate-Financial Analysis

• University of Phoenix
  • Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Finance

• American InterContinental University Online
  • Bachelor's of Business Administration - Accounting and Finance
  • MBA - Accounting and Finance

• Capella University
  • BS - Finance
  • MBA - Finance specialization

• DeVry University
  • Bachelor Business Administration - Finance

• Grand Canyon University
  • BBA with Concentration in Finance
  • MBA with Emphasis in Finance

• Kaplan University Online
  • Advanced Start BSBA - Financial Analysis
  • BS in Business Administration - Financial Analysis

For schools in Canada

Click here for a page that links to campus universities and campus colleges in Canada. It also provides some advice on choosing a suitable campus.

Click here and then enter your Canadian postal code to search for Canadian college or university campuses.

Campus Programs

For those students who feel that online learning and distance education is not for them, the web site also has a section on campus programs. 

You can also search for programs or top medical schools near you.

What is studied in finance degree programs?

In order to work in financial fields it is necessary to earn a degree in finance. There are four different degrees that can be earned; an Associates, Bachelors, Master's and Doctorate. An Associates typically can be earned within two years. A Bachelors requires three to four years of education. After getting a Bachelors, one or two more years of school can achieve a Master's or four to six more years of school can achieve a Doctorate.

In a Financial program, there are a variety of courses that must be taken. These courses include math, business management, accounting, marketing, banking and risk management, economics, and computer science classes related to finance. It is also very important for a person in financial programs to acquire problem solving and critical thinking skills.

What jobs are there for graduates?

There are many job choices for graduates depending on which degree they earn. An Associates can help get an entry-level job at a bank or other business. A Bachelors is a requirement for most companies in order to work in financial related fields. A Master's, also known as an MBA, can lead to the best job opportunities in a financial related field. With a Doctorate, an individual has the ability to teach at junior colleges, universities, and other schools relating to business.

After receiving a financial degree, a graduate has many options. He or she can choose to open their own business or work in a financial position at a company. There are many financial positions offered by different companies. People working in credit analysis are responsible for examining financial information to help a business decide if a customer should receive credit. Financial advisors recommend how a business can best spend their money. A financial analyst considers a business' funds and decides how they should invest or spend their funds. Regardless of which avenue a graduate decides to take it is beneficial to receive a Chartered Financial Analyst certification through the CFA Institute. This will allow for the best opportunity for advancement in financial fields.

What are the prospects for finance careers?

There are many finance jobs that have a positive outlook for the future. Financial managers are one of these jobs. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 539, 000 Financial Manager jobs in 2008. Of these jobs, 31% were with finance and insurance companies. The amount of jobs in this field of finance is expected to grow 8% from 2008 to 2018.  A majority of Financial Managers earn between $72,030 and $135,070.

Another career that has a positive outlook for the future is Financial Analyst. There were 250,600 Financial Analyst jobs in 2008. There is expected to be a 20% increase in jobs from 2008 to 2018.  Most financial analysts earn between $54, 930 and $99, 100.

No matter which way a person chooses to go regarding a financial degree, it is evident they will have many different options. With an increase in the number of financial jobs, also comes an increase in the amount of people trying to earn those jobs. The higher a person goes with their education, the better chance they will have with the competition for financial jobs. It is a lot of work; however, in the end it will pay off.

For more information

Use this link to find finance degree programs.

Use the search facility on this site to find a degree in finance.

Remember to compare the admission requirements and course content of several schools before you choose a program.