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Colorado State University Global’s accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in finance is a 120-credit program that covers investments, corporate finance, financial markets, and financial management.
Industry-aligned
The career-focused curriculum ensures you shine as a candidate for corporate finance and financial planning roles. The Financial Planning emphasis aligns with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
100% online
Study on your own schedule — wherever and whenever (you just need Wi-Fi!). Our unwavering support includes attentive faculty, flexible weekly deadlines, and live support for tutoring, library, and technical assistance.
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Master Money with an Online Bachelor's in Finance
CSU Global's Bachelor of Science in Finance program provides a strong foundation in business and economics. Students seeking a degree in finance choose between two specialized emphases—Corporate Finance or Financial Planning.
The Corporate Finance emphasis prepares students to serve as corporate financial analysts and for careers in corporate finance. Topics include principles of corporate finance, working capital, risk management, and corporate finance.
The emphasis in Financial Planning is aligned with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. It includes coursework to prepare for the entrance exam for the CFP and for a successful transition into the career of a financial planner. Topics include financial planning, insurance and retirement planning, and personal income tax planning.
Choose your path and take the first step toward a lucrative and fulfilling career in finance.
An accelerated online Bachelor's Degree in Finance from CSU Global prepares you for a future in the financial services industry. Earning a degree in financing puts you at the heart of multiple global industries, where you'll perform expert analysis, reporting and regulatory functions. Using the skills learned from this program, our graduates go on to have successful careers in finance, making major lending decisions and managing the finances of enterprises across all sectors of the economy.
What skills will I learn with a finance degree?
In our bachelor of finance program, you’ll learn the concepts and job-specific skills needed for professional certification in the financial services field. Our curriculum teaches you how to:
Apply concepts, theories, terminology, and modern practices in finance
Use financial principles to resolve practical business and personal finance challenges
Perform financial analysis with quantitative techniques Interpret financial statements and proportions
Scrutinize investment and financial risk
Apply legislation, regulations, and best-practice principles in varied financial scenarios
Communicate professionally through writing and presentations with colleagues and stakeholders
What jobs can you do with a bachelor’s in finance?
Professionals with a B.S. in finance are in high demand in the private sector, especially in banks, insurance companies, and lending agencies. Government offices often hire professionals with a degree in financing as regulators, and nonprofit organizations have an ongoing need for expert fundraisers and analysts. Other career paths include financial manager, budget analyst, personal financial adviser, and securities and commodities broker.
Jobs that finance graduates often fill include:
Financial Managers | 2022 Median Pay: $139,790
Financial Analysts | 2022 Median Pay: $95,080
Personal Financial Advisors | 2022 Median Pay: $95,390
Securities, Commodities and Financial Services Sales Agents | 2022 Median Pay: $67,480
Salary information is based on Lightcast data from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. 09/2023
Third-Party Licensure & Certification Pathways
In addition to the comprehensive knowledge that you’ll earn through a bachelor’s degree, industry certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in a specific area. As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, you will become eligible to take the following industry-recognized exam:
As a CFP Board-registered program, upon completion of a Bachelor of Science in Finance with Emphasis in Financial Planning, you will be prepared to take the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam.
Courses in this Program
CSU Global’s Bachelor’s of Science in Finance program requires the completion of 120 total credits, including a mix of Core Degree Courses in Finance, General Education Courses, Elective Courses, and Area of Emphasis Courses.
CSU Global’s General Education Courses are more than a bachelor’s degree requirement. They are designed to help you develop and strengthen valuable skills demanded in the workplace.
Already taken some courses? Up to 90 total credits (and 64 from community colleges) can be transferred into a bachelor’s degree at CSU Global. Request a Transcript Evaluation Summary to see how close you already are to graduation!
The emphasis in corporate finance will prepare students to serve as corporate financial analysts and careers in corporate finance. Topics will include principles of corporate finance, working capital, risk management, and corporate finance, and will involve mathematical equations and the use of industry software tools.
Emphasis Outcomes
Apply principles of corporate financial management including the interpretation of accounts, corporate governance, investment strategies and issues of risk and return.
Evaluate the link between financial decisions, attitudes toward risk, and corporate value through application of financial theory and techniques.
Develop a framework for valuation including the valuation of stocks and bonds, evaluation of investment opportunities, and firm valuation.
Examine a company's cost of capital and sources of external funding for company operations.
Courses in this emphasis include:
FIN330: Corporate Finance
FIN375: Working Capital Management
FIN332: Risk Management and Analysis
FIN333: Corporate Valuation
Financial Planning
CSU Global Bachelor’s Finance with a Financial Planning emphasis has been approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). This program includes coursework to prepare students for the CFP entrance exam and a successful transition into the career of a financial planner. Topics include financial planning, insurance and retirements planning, and personal income tax planning.
Emphasis Outcomes
Explain regulations, requirements, standards and protections for professional conduct in financial planning.
Create a financial plan incorporating financial planning concepts, strategies, tools, and principles.
Explain and recommend appropriate insurance options based on client needs analysis.
Describe investment principles and strategies to assist client in portfolio development.
Discuss education planning and financing principles.
Analyze personal tax implications, consequences, and management techniques.
Develop retirement savings and income plan that includes estate planning.
Courses in this emphasis include:
FIN320: Introduction to Insurance and Investment Planning
FIN321: Retirement and Real Estate Planning
FIN322: Personal Income Tax Planning
FIN323: Developing the Financial Plan
The remainder of your online finance degree is comprised of courses of your choice that support your educational goals and needs. Including a specialization reduces the number of elective credits you'll need to complete your bachelor's degree.
As a not-for-profit public university, our goal at CSU Global is to make your online tuition cost as affordable as possible. We offer low-cost online degree tuition rates without taking anything away from the quality of the education you receive. We also lock in that low tuition rate with our tuition guarantee, and we provide additional discounted tuition rates for members of the armed forces and employees of our corporate affiliate partners.
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for Financial Managers in 2021 was well over $131k.
17% Job Growth
Employment of Financial Managers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Common Job Titles
Some job titles commonly held in the field of finance include Financial Manager or Analyst, Personal Financial Adviser, and Securities, Commodities and Financial Services Sales Agents.
Program Accreditations and Rankings
CSU Global is proud to offer affordable, reputable programs that have received recognition for their quality, value, and more. Click here to learn more about our rankings and acknowledgements.
Best Online Bachelor's Programs
U.S. News & World Report ranks CSU Global among the Top 20 Online Bachelor's Programs for 2024.
#1 Best Online Finance Degree Programs of 2022
Intelligent.com ranked CSU Global #1 in their list of the best Online Finance Degree programs, based on our reputation, course strength, cost and flexibility.
Gold School of Distinction
In Best College's School of Distinction standings, CSU Global earns one of only 15 gold rankings, out of more than 2,000 online degree programs.
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Institutional Accreditation
Institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) means your degree comes from a top-quality, trusted university.
“[CSU Global] allowed me to stay home with my newborn daughter and then come back to the workforce with a Bachelor's degree, so there was no gap.”
