Studying Finance Online

Recently, we wrote about what finance is, why you might want to study it, and why it’s worth getting a bachelor’s degree in the field. Here, we’ll explore what you can do after completing a B.S. in Finance.

To help explain the many career opportunities you’ll have available, we’ll review a range of important topics, including what jobs you can get with a degree in finance, what you’ll learn while completing your bachelor’s program, and why you should consider studying finance online instead of in-person.

When you’ve finished reading this post, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, or if you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Why Should You Consider a Bachelor’s in Finance?

There are many good reasons to pursue a degree in finance, but the most important one is that earning your degree will provide you with all the skills and abilities you need to launch a lifelong career as a financial services professional.

Financial professionals can pursue a wide variety of different jobs, but this is a challenging field that requires some specialized skills and knowledge.

Finance isn’t the easiest field to launch a career in, and in many cases, accredited and respected academic credentials may be required even for entry-level roles. 

Accordingly, If you’re serious about breaking into the industry, it’s a good idea to study finance in an accredited degree program so that you can be sure that you’ll be able to prove your potential value to hiring managers looking to fill open positions.

Is Finance a Good Career Field?

Yes, finance is an excellent field for launching a lifelong career, especially if you’re looking for a lucrative and exciting industry.

There are three main reasons to consider getting into financial services:

  1. The field continues to grow, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for financial professionals will continue to rise significantly throughout the next decade, with the employment of financial managers set to rise 17% between 2021 and 2031.
  2. Financial professionals play a very important role in most modern businesses, and even non-business organizations since all organizations need effective finance professionals to help advise them on money matters.
  3. Top jobs in finance pay excellent salaries, with the BLS reporting that financial managers earn a considerable annual income, averaging $131,710 as of May 2021.

If you’re interested in helping individuals, companies or organizations analyze financial statements, pursue effective risk management, or deal with regulatory compliance issues, then you should certainly consider getting your B.S. Degree in Finance.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance?

According to The Balance Careers, you’ll qualify for a variety of excellent jobs after completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, including roles like:

  • Financial Manager
  • Financial Planner
  • Financial Analyst
  • Actuary
  • Accountant
  • Budget Analyst
  • Credit Analyst
  • Investor Relations Associate
  • Personal Financial Advisor
  • Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sale Agent

These jobs are technical, complex, and critical to the health and success of organizations, so if you’re looking to land any of these roles, we suggest that you complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance before attempting to get hired.

After completing your degree, you’ll be able to pursue some of the most interesting jobs in the industry, including roles like:

Financial Manager / 2020 Median Pay: $131,710

Financial managers are a perfect role for anyone who studies finance, as these are the professionals responsible for building an organization’s financial reports, directing its investment activities, and developing its plans for achieving long-term financial goals.

As a result of the importance of these tasks, financial managers tend to play an incredibly important role in determining organizational success, which is why the job typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree and five or more years of experience in business, per the BLS.

Financial managers are employed by organizations in virtually every industry, but the role is especially popular at banks, investment firms, and insurance companies.

BLS also projects that demand for financial managers is set to explode, with their employment projected to grow 17% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the 7% rate of growth for all occupations.

If you’re interested in launching a lifelong career in finance, this is the perfect position to aspire to down the line, after you’ve first earned your degree in the field, then established yourself as a reliable financial service professional with several years of industry experience.

Personal Financial Advisor  / 2021 Median Pay: $91,170

The role of a personal financial advisor is another incredibly popular job for finance graduates, as these individuals play an important role in financial services by providing people with financial advice.

Financial advisors help individuals plan and manage their finances, offering advice on anything related to money, including investments opportunities, savings options, etc. 

BLS reports that most positions in this field will require a bachelor’s degree and that a master’s degree or certifications can make it easier to advance your career.

Accordingly, before attempting to land a job as a personal financial advisor, you would be well-advised to first complete a degree in the field.

BLS projects that the employment of personal financial advisors will grow 15% between 2021 and 2031.

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sale Agent / 2021 Median Pay: $62,910

These professionals are responsible for connecting buyers and sellers in financial markets, which is an incredibly important function in modern business.

BLS reports that the job may include work in high-stress environments, but if you’re interested in finance, you want to play a key role in the logistics of financial transactions, and you do well under pressure, then this could be the perfect career path for you.

BLS notes that a bachelor’s degree will be required even for entry-level jobs and that a master’s degree could help with career advancement down the line.

Budget Analyst / 2021 Median Pay: $79,940

Budget analysts are one of the more popular entry-level positions in the field of financial services, as they’re tasked with helping organizations plan their finances.

This is a number-crunching type role that typically requires a bachelor’s degree in finance, or a related field, as the skills and abilities you develop in courses on accounting, economics, and statistics will be incredibly important to the work you’re asked to complete as a professional budget analyst.

BLS projects a slight increase in the employment of budget analysts over the coming decade, with a 3% growth in employment between 2021 and 2031.

If you’re looking to get your feet into the door of the financial services industry, and you want to work with organizations rather than individuals, then the role of a budget analyst is an ideal place to begin your career.

Financial Analyst / 2021 Median Pay: $95,570

Financial analysts are responsible for helping both organizations and individuals figure out how to make more money, and are typically focused on increasing profit.

These individuals serve a different function than financial advisors, who tend to focus on planning and managing finances, which is more of a logistics role, while the financial analyst specializes in offering investment advice.

Financial analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree, so if you’re interested in attaining a job in this field then you’ll certainly want to consider completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or some similar topic before you go to apply for available positions.

BLS projects that the employment of financial analysts will rise slightly over the next decade, increasing by 9% between 2021 and 2031, which they note is about as fast as the average rate of growth for all occupations. 

Do You Need a Bachelor’s Degree to Get a Job in Finance?

After reading through the potential job opportunities above, it should be quite clear that you would have a better chance of getting a job in this industry after earning your bachelor’s degree in the field.

While it may be possible to get an entry-level position without first completing a degree, that is typically not the easiest way to get yourself hired in this profession, so we certainly suggest getting your degree before applying for related roles.

The good news is that no matter what niche or specialty area of finance you choose to pursue, getting your degree is sure to help develop your skills and abilities in the field, increasing the chances that you’ll be able to serve as an effective financial professional when you do land that first job.

Finishing a B.S. in Finance from a respected school like CSU Global should help make it easier to get that job too, as it is one of the best ways of proving that you’re prepared to provide value to any organization from day one.

Financial services is a competitive, challenging, and complex field, so even if you’ve already got a knack for financial topics, some experience in financial investing, management, or planning, you’ll still want to consider that degree as a way to help increase your chances of achieving real success in the industry.

What Would You Learn in a Finance Degree Program?

If you choose to study finance with CSU Global, you’ll learn all about the techniques and best practices needed to become a successful financial services professional.

As a student at CSU Global, you’ll gain the foundational skills and real-world experience needed to help individuals and organizations manage their finances, along with a deep understanding of the factors that influence financial decision-making, and the critical thinking strategies needed to solve financial problems. 

After graduating from our program, you’ll be prepared to:

  • Apply financial principles to real-world business and personal finance situations.
  • Utilize the proper terminology, theories, concepts, practices, and skills needed to succeed in the field of finance.
  • Perform complex financial analyses using quantitative concepts and techniques.
  • Interpret financial statements and ratios.
  • Understand, examine, and evaluate investment and financial risk.
  • Apply legislation, regulations, and principles of practice to financial scenarios.

Our fully accredited program also offers you the ability to specialize in either Corporate Finance or Financial Planning, so you can begin specializing your skills and abilities towards whichever niche sounds most interesting to you.

Corporate Finance Specialization

This specialization option will train you to conduct work as a corporate financial analyst, or start a career in corporate finance, and coursework will focus on working capital, risk management, and corporate finance.

Financial Planning Specialization 

This specialization option will train you to launch a career as a successful financial planner, with a curriculum that’s aligned to prepare you for successful results on the CFP® certification exam

Your specialization in either one of these fields could give you a leg up on other job applicants who’ve only trained in general financial best practices and principles when it comes time to hunt for the industry’s most competitive jobs.

By the time you’ve completed our B.S. in Finance program, you’ll be fully prepared to leverage the detailed financial and analytical skills required to succeed in this exciting industry! 

Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance Really Worth It?

Yes. It is worth completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, since earning a degree could be incredibly important to launching a successful, lifelong career in this competitive field.

Getting your bachelor’s degree will prove that you’re committed to the industry and that you’ve developed the knowledge needed to provide real value to any organization from your first day on the job.

While it may take hard work and dedication to complete a B.S. in Finance from CSU Global, you’re sure to find your experience studying with us will be both useful and relevant to the work of a finance professional.

Should I Get My Bachelor’s in Finance Online?

Yes, you should certainly consider studying finance online, as online degree programs tend to provide far more flexibility and freedom than on-campus programs.

This is especially important if you’re already busy with existing work or family responsibilities since studying online could make it much easier to meet all of your existing obligations.

Studying online at CSU Global could make it easier to complete your finance program, since it will allow you to take advantage of the flexibility and freedom that our online programs provide, including benefits like:

  • No set times or locations for classes.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated, eight-week courses.

If you already have a busy schedule, if you anticipate having any problems finding time for your academic studies, or if you just want to get your degree as quickly and efficiently as possible, then you should definitely choose to study online with us.

Why Should You Choose CSU Global for Your Bachelor’s in Finance?

Our B.S. in Finance program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and designed to provide you with the relevant real-world skills you need to advance your career in this challenging, competitive, but lucrative industry.

Your degree is sure to be respected by potential hiring managers as CSU Global is widely regarded as an expert in higher education, having recently earned a series of distinguished rankings, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Getting your degree in finance is the best way to prepare you for a successful, lifelong career in the field, and our program options for specializing in either Corporate Finance or Financial Planning will ensure that you get to focus on developing the specific set of skills you’re looking to deploy in the workforce.

Finally, to help save you time and money on the costs of your degree, we offer competitive tuition rates, and a Tuition Guarantee that ensures your low tuition rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation.

For additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree 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!