Undergraduate
Degrees
Certifications
Graduate
Degrees
Certifications
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University - Global Campus
Undergraduate
Degrees
Certifications
Graduate
Degrees
Certifications
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Blog
Here we’ll discuss what finance is and what the finance industry is like. We’ll explain what finance professionals do, how to get into finance, and why you may want to consider finance as a career option.
Finance refers to the management of money and financial professionals who are responsible for activities like investing, borrowing, lending, saving, and forecasting. Within this broad definition, there are three main categories of finance:
Personal finance refers to the field of financial planning for individuals, assisting these clients with retirement planning, obtaining personal credit cards, managing insurance, mortgages, or investments. Any financial decisions that we make in our own lives or on an individual or family level would fall under the category of personal finance.
Corporate finance includes the financial activities involved in running a corporation. In many corporations, there is a finance department or division dedicated to managing these concerns, which can span from the minutiae of balancing the corporate budget to larger strategic decisions about raising funds through stock offerings or generating capital from angel investors or venture capitalists.
Finally, public finance, or government finance, refers to all financial operations that occur under the umbrella of government at all levels. From taxes to government spending, budgeting, and debt issuance policies, government finance affects every level of society. In the federal government, public finance can also include economic stability measures and efforts used to prevent market failure, shore up the economy, etc.
No matter what type of finance career you want to pursue, you should consider getting a degree in the area you’re interested in.
After you’ve learned everything you need to know about finance, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or our online Master’s Program in Finance. If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.
Yes, finance is an excellent career field. Financial professionals are needed by virtually every organization and company, so no matter what sector, industry, or space you would like to work in, you should be able to find a role that perfectly aligns with your interests.
The role of a financial professional is challenging, requiring advanced knowledge, skills, and abilities, but the industry offers well-trained and hard-working professionals the chance of finding rewarding, long-term employment.
So, if you’re interested in helping drive growth for both clients and organizations, then you should certainly consider a career in the field.
Finance professionals have a wide variety of responsibilities and duties, but there are some specific tasks that make up the typical role in the field.
If you’re looking to get into finance, we suggest prioritizing educational training and skills development in the following areas:
While there may be roles in the field of finance that do not require a degree, earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Finance will open much more engaging long-term employment opportunities and fulfilling career paths.
While earning your degree, you will have the opportunity to study the challenges that financial professionals face on a daily basis. Thus, you can learn how to overcome common issues and provide effective financial strategies.
In short, earning your Bachelor’s or Master’s in Finance will ensure that you’ve developed an understanding of the critical financial concepts, theories, and practices necessary for building a fulfilling career in financial services.
When it comes to the question of which finance degree you should get, the answer depends on your educational and professional goals.
You’ll want to choose the degree program that best suits your skills, experience, personal qualities, and career aspirations.
The choice between a Bachelor’s or a Master’s in Finance comes down to the role of each degree program.
A Bachelor’s Degree in Finance will be a better fit for someone who doesn’t already have an undergraduate degree or who is curious about the field of finance and looking to break into it for the first time.
On the other hand, a Master’s in Finance program is better suited for those with an existing undergraduate degree, or someone who already has experience in the field of finance and wants to move into management or senior-level positions.
To summarize, bachelor’s programs will prepare you for entry-level roles in finance, whereas master’s programs are focused on preparing students for leadership-oriented positions or hyper-focused specializations.
To get help making this important decision, feel free to reach out to an enrollment counselor who can help guide you to the right program.
Earning your Bachelor’s in Finance will open many doors into the entry and mid-level roles across a broad range of industries. Just about every nonprofit, corporation and government body needs someone with the expertise, skills, and knowledge that a B.S. in Finance program delivers.
Some excellent jobs for B.S. in Finance program alumni include:
Other potential jobs that may be well-suited for Finance majors include:
A Master’s in Finance can play a big role in accelerating your career and opening new doors to more specialized roles, while also paving the way for leadership positions in many different industries.
Excellent job titles for graduates from M.S. in Finance programs include:
With additional years of work experience, an M.S. in Finance can even lead to senior leadership positions such as Director of Finance or even Chief Financial Officer.
Yes, you should consider getting your Finance Degree online from a regionally accredited and widely respected school, like CSU Global.
Our 100% online Finance Degree programs are designed to offer as much flexibility as possible, including:
If you have family and work responsibilities, and you need to balance them with educational pursuits, then getting your degree online from CSU Global may be the ideal option.
CSU Global’s online Finance Bachelor’s and Master’s programs prepare students to meet the challenges they’ll face working in the field of global financial services.
Our programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the Master’s in Finance is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
These programs were designed to be completed 100% online, offering you the flexibility you need to complete your educational pursuits without sacrificing existing family and career responsibilities.
Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Finance Degree
CSU Global is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an online college for finance. Our program will help you develop essential skills to work in this competitive industry, including:
Also, when choosing the CSU Global Bachelor’s in Finance with a Financial Planning specialization, you’ll be in one of just a few programs in the country that is recognized by the CFP Board®. Those who earn a CFP Board-recognized degree are distinguishing themselves among their peers by meeting CFP Board’s education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. Completing this program also means you’ll have met the education requirement for CFP® Certification Examination administered by CFP Board.
Finally, with our accelerated schedules, monthly class starts, no set class times, and 100% online degree formats, this B.S. in Finance program lets you earn your degree on your schedule.
Reasons to Choose our M.S. in Finance Degree
Completing our Master’s Degree in Finance is designed to hone your leadership, analytical, and operational skills to give you a competitive edge in this challenging industry.
This program is widely recognized as a top-ranked program and has won several well-respected rankings, including:
Our M.S. in Finance alumni also report finding impressive real-world success one year after completing their program, with a median salary that is 6% higher than the national average for all master’s degree holders.
CSU Global itself has also recently won several important awards, including:
Finally, CSU Global offers competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee to ensure your rate won’t increase as you’re getting a degree in the desired field.
To get additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or our top-ranked online Master’s Program in Finance, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.
Ready to get started today? Apply now!
