Finance – Online Degrees and Courses

Experts in finance are required by almost all small and large companies for making crucial decisions about the finances of the firm. The task of finance professionals is to make investments in view of long-term effects, use the existing resources meaningfully, acquire assets, and undertake effective financial planning. Because of the vital role played by financial experts in handling funds, they are employed by different types of organizations and companies.

A successful financial professional needs qualities exceeding basic financial wisdom like PR skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, confident decision-making, and ability to think creatively and critically. These qualities are essential for getting responsible positions like that of budget analysts, investment bankers, real estate agents, loan officers, money managers, underwriters, and personal financial advisors.

A student must pursue at least a bachelor’s degree in finance to get an entry-level career in the world of finance. However, for higher ranks like Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), finance professionals must be qualified with a license or certification. In addition to holding degrees, finance candidates must participate in constant career training to remain updated about the latest developments in the finance industry.

The career prospects of finance professionals can be quite expansive. Financial experts could be asked to help clients create personal budgets, college savings plans, retirement saving plans, tax management and develop spending plans and investment strategies. On a larger scale; financial professionals advise firms on how they should buy and trade assets to support business operations.

The nature of their work is such that financial professionals move up to the still higher levels of supervising a team of financial analysts and becoming fund manager or portfolio manager and dealing with the investment strategy for an organization’s funds. However, before reaching up to these career heights, a student must take up a financial management degree that focuses on analytical skills and management. It should also include general finance topics like international finance, investments, financial management and banking.

According to the estimates of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10% of successful finance analysts can earn roughly $141,700 annually. Finance professionals also enjoy good career options as salaried employees of financial services firms who receive performance-based bonuses. Both in-house and individual financial advisors can earn handsomely by charging commissions atop of their hourly fees.

Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database.

Top Finance Degree Programs

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  Campus

  Strayer University Online

  Program

  • Accounting

  • Finance

  • Business Administration: Finance Concentration

  

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  Campus

  Boston University Online

  Program

  • Master of Science in Banking and Financial Services Management (MSBFSM)

  • Master of Science in Business Continuity, Security, & Risk Management

  

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  Campus

  Ashford University Online

  Program

  • BA/Business Administration/Finance

  • BA/Finance

  • BA/Sports and Recreation Management/Finance

  • Master in Business Administration/Finance

  

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  Campus

  American InterContinental University

  Program

  • Bachelor's (BBA) - Finance

  • MBA - Finance

  

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  Campus

  Kaplan University Online

  Program

  • AASBA - Banking Service

  • BSBA - Financial Analysis

  • MBA - Finance

  • MS in Finance - Financial Analysis

  • MS in Finance

  • MS in Finance - Financial Planning

  

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  Campus

  Everest College Phoenix Online

  Program

  • Accounting (Associate)

  

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  Campus

  UOP

  Program

  • BS in Business/Finance

  • Graduate Accounting Cert. (Bachelor's degree Req.)

  • MS/Master of Business Admin./Health Care Mgmt.

  

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  Campus

  Keiser University eCampus Online

  Program

  • Business Administration, BA - Finance

  

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  Campus

  South University Online

  Program

  • Business Administration Finance Specialization (BA)

  • Business Administration - Finance Specialization (MBA)

  

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  Campus

  Walden University Online

  Program

  • B.S./Business Admin./Finance