5 Majors to Consider for a Career in Finance – BigFuture (2024)

FAQs

What majors go well with finance? ›

There are four main areas of finance: banks, institutions, public accounting and corporate. Courses within the finance major provide a solid background in many subjects including: Financial markets and intermediaries. Measuring the risk and return of investments.

A finance program helps students develop finance skills that will serve them in their future finance jobs. You will get to learn all about data analysis, capital allocation, investment strategy, and risk management. The fun doesn't stop at technical skills, though.

Applicants with professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and those with an advanced credential such as a master's degree or MBA in accounting will have the best chances of securing desirable positions in the field.

For many professionals, a bachelor's degree in finance is worth it because it is the starting point for a successful and lifelong career. By analyzing data, studying financial markets, and assessing risks, finance professionals help individuals and organizations stay within their budgets and earn competitive salaries.

Many companies say your major does not matter, claiming they hire people from all backgrounds, including art majors. No doubt they do, but it is certainly better to apply for finance jobs with a finance-related degree.

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.

The finance professionals' basic activities are the 5 A's - assemble, analyse, advise, apply and accumen.

A finance degree offers students a thorough understanding of banking, trading, and economics. Finance is the study, acquisition, and management of money and investments. The field includes banking, credit, debt, and capital markets activities, which are all driven by economic principles and practices.

Is finance a good major in 2024? ›

While the financial industry is traditionally associated with high wage earners, making it into the top three paying industries of 2024, there are 10 specific finance careers or jobs that hold significant salary potential and are showing promising signs of growth and industry demand.

The degree is usually offered as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance, depending on the school.

The top 5 highest paying jobs in finance are investment banking, hedge fund management, CFO roles, private equity, and actuarial positions. These careers typically offer substantial salaries and the potential for significant bonuses.

Engineering is the highest-paying college major, with graduates making $65,000-$80,000 immediately after college. Jane Nam is a staff writer for BestColleges' Data Center. Before her work on higher education data trends, Jane was a news writer and the managing editor for an academic journal.

Bankers often have degrees in business management, finance, economics, or mathematics and can begin their career after graduating with a bachelor's. There are several career paths within banking including investment banking, personal banking, wealth management, and bank management.

The top 5 highest paying jobs in finance are investment banking, hedge fund management, CFO roles, private equity, and actuarial positions. These careers typically offer substantial salaries and the potential for significant bonuses.

Explanation: Most careers in finance deal with the analysis of assets and liabilities.

Believe it or not, mastery of advanced math skills is not necessary to have a career in finance. With today's technology, all math-related tasks can be done by computers and calculators. That said, there are some basic math skills that would certainly make you a better candidate in the finance industry.

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging.