Finance Degree
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Table of Contents
Finance is part of the interconnected FAME group of subjects (finance, accounting, management and economics), which are some of the most popular courses at both undergraduate and graduate level.
A finance degree will provide the student with fundamental financial management tools to succeed in analyzing and executing the financial aspects of managerial decisions. Students will learn how wealth is measured and also how finance influences and shapes the way companies behave. Economics and statistics are also covered, since they are crucial to the understanding of finance. Other important finance topics which will probably be taught include accounting, mathematical methods, macro and microeconomics and information technology. The minimum level of education required for finance careers is the bachelor's degree.
Finance Careers
The career trajectory of people with a Finance degree appears to be focused around a few careers. The most common career that users with Finance degrees have experience in is Financial Analyst, followed by Investment Banker, Accountant, Financial Advisor, Financial Manager, Auditor, Credit Analyst, Stock Trader, Financial Clerk, and Actuary.
| Career | % of graduates | % of population | Multiple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Analyst | 11.2% | 0.3% | 43.3× | ||
| Investment Banker | 7.1% | 0.1% | 51.2× | ||
| Accountant | 5.1% | 1.0% | 4.9× | ||
| Financial Advisor | 6.9% | 0.2% | 35.9× | ||
| Financial Manager | 5.4% | 0.1% | 40.4× | ||
| Auditor | 4.6% | 0.3% | 16.6× | ||
| Credit Analyst | 5.5% | 0.1% | 53.5× | ||
| Stock Trader | 3.8% | 0.1% | 42.1× | ||
| Financial Clerk | 3.3% | 0.2% | 13.4× | ||
| Actuary | 3.3% | 0.1% | 63.2× | ||
Finance Salary
Finance graduates earn on average $47k, putting them in the 75th percentile of earners with a degree.
| Percentile | Earnings after graduation ($1000s USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| 25th (bottom earners) | $35k | |
| Median (average earners) | $47k | |
| 75th (top earners) | $64k | |
Finance Underemployment
Finance graduates are moderately employed compared to other graduates. We have collected data on three types of underemployment. Part-time refers to work that is less than 30 hours per week. Non-college refers to work that does not require a college degree. Low-paying includes a list of low-wage service jobs such as janitorial work, serving, or dishwashing.
| Employment Type | Proportion of graduates | |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs that don't require college | 67% | |
| Part-Time | 13% | |
| Low-paying | 7% | |
