Is finance a tough major?

It certainly involves some pretty complex concepts like financial modeling, quantitative analysis, and advanced accounting. But if you have an aptitude for math and can manage your schedule, you should do well.

What courses will I take in an online bachelor's in finance program?

Expect your coursework to cover topics like corporate finance, risk management, investments, financial analysis, and financial planning. Electives may be available that support your specific goals as well, including real estate finance, international finance, and financial technology.

What are the best-paying jobs with a bachelor's in finance?

In May 2023, financial risk specialists working in securities, commodity contracts, and investments earned a median salary of $128,660, according to the BLS. The top 10% of financial analysts earned more than $175,840.

Best Online Finance Degree Programs 2024

Q: Is an online finance degree worth it?

It certainly can be. Students with an aptitude for mathematics, business, and analysis will find that an online finance degree can really pay off — especially if they aim for high-paying roles with strong projected job growth, like personal financial advisor or management analyst.

Considering an online finance degree? Discover the top-ranked colleges that offer an online degree in finance.

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Updated September 9, 2024

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BestColleges digs into higher education data from authoritative sources to find the best online degrees. Our student-focused methodology evaluates factors such as affordability, student outcomes, and reputation. We also factor in diversity and social mobility to identify the colleges that make the biggest difference.

If you’re considering a finance degree, you’ll want to attend a high-quality program. After all, finance majors need strong analytical and judgment skills. Graduates can also look forward to high-paying careers with a finance degree, such as a financial analyst, which reported a nearly six-figure median pay in May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Featured Online Finance Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Why Florida International University Ranks No. 1 This Year

Florida International University tops our list for the best online finance degree because of its accessibility and affordability. The public university reports a net price of just $6,232, making it the most affordable program to meet our requirements. As finance majors know, an inexpensive degree boosts your return on investment.

A strong retention rate and above-average graduation rate also indicate the university’s commitment to students. Students with a Pell Grant report an even higher graduation rate, which demonstrates support for low-income students. FIU reports a 64% acceptance rate, which means applicants have a good shot of getting into the program.

In this Article

Top Online Finance Degree Programs of 2024

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,529

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,912

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,393

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

56,664

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,529

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,721

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,529

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

65%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,912

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,393

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

56,664

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK4 yearCampus + Online

$5,417

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,937

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

68%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,611

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,114

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

24,577

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,417

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,937

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, OK4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,417

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,937

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,611

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,114

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

24,577

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR4 yearCampus + Online

$10,065

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,456

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

89%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,446

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,297

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

33,193

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,065

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,456

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,065

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,456

Acceptance Rate

89%

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,446

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,297

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

33,193

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Whitewater, WI4 yearCampus + Online

$6,519

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,391

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

83%

Acceptance Rate

70%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,270

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,153

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

11,446

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,519

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,391

University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Whitewater, WI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,519

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,391

Acceptance Rate

83%

Online Enrollment

70%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,270

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,153

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

11,446

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Killeen, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,385

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

96%

Acceptance Rate

90%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,558

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,920

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,219

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,385

Texas A&M University-Central Texas

Killeen, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,593

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,385

Acceptance Rate

96%

Online Enrollment

90%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,558

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,920

Retention Rate

N/A

Students Enrolled

2,219

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$15,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,084

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

92%

Acceptance Rate

54%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,189

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,248

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

88,914

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,084

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,084

Acceptance Rate

92%

Online Enrollment

54%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,189

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,248

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

88,914

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$1,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

54%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,435

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,842

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

11,877

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$1,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,000

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$1,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,000

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

54%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,435

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,842

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

11,877

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL4 yearCampus + Online

$8,568

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,400

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

89%

Acceptance Rate

66%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,188

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

22,289

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,568

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,400

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,568

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,400

Acceptance Rate

89%

Online Enrollment

66%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,188

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

22,289

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$19,581

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

82%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,219

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,937

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

19,038

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,581

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,422

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,581

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

82%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,219

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,937

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

19,038

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

University of Minnesota Crookston

Crookston, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$10,822

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,822

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

48%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

2,304

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,822

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,822

University of Minnesota Crookston

Crookston, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$10,822

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,822

Acceptance Rate

48%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

70%

Students Enrolled

2,304

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

More Online Finance Degree Programs

In ranking online finance programs, we eliminated schools with high student loan default rates and low graduation rates to find the best programs for prospective students. While our rankings include the top 10 programs that meet our requirements, several other programs may also be worth considering.

For example, if you’re concerned about meeting the GPA requirements for selective schools, you can consider public universities that have a higher acceptance rate. The finance program at Missouri State University meets our requirements, and the university admits 94% of applicants. Similarly, Georgia State University accepts 100% of applicants.

Is an Online Finance Degree Worth It?

Earning your finance degree online can pay off. Many careers in finance report high salaries, and jobs with a finance degree also report strong demand. For example, financial analysts report a median annual wage of $99,890, according to May 2023 BLS data. Financial analysts will benefit from faster-than-average job growth from 2023-2033, according to BLS projections.

But is an online finance degree the right choice for you? Taking a few business classes can help you decide. If you’re not sure finance is the right fit, consider similar majors like accounting, marketing, or management.

What to Consider Before Choosing an Online Finance Program

Finding the right program to earn your degree in finance can make a big difference in your education and career. Consider factors like your budget, the program’s schedule, concentration options, and location to find the program that best fits your needs.

Total cost: Research the total cost of the degree, including fees and other expenses. Looking at net cost can give you valuable information.
Program Format: Will you attend live class sessions or watch recorded materials? The program format matters, especially if you want to work while earning your degree.
Accreditation: You should always choose an accredited college to earn your online degree. Make sure the school holds accreditation from a reputable accrediting agency.

Check out our bachelor’s degree in finance program guide for more resources on choosing the right program.