Quick Answer

A finance degree requires approximately 120 credit hours, with a business core (accounting, economics, management, marketing) plus specialized finance courses in corporate finance, investments, financial markets, financial modeling, and risk management. Math requirements include calculus, statistics, and sometimes linear algebra. Finance is more quantitative than general business or marketing but less math-intensive than economics PhD preparation or engineering. Excel proficiency is assumed, not optional.

The question behind this search is about the math. You have heard that finance involves numbers, but you are not sure whether that means basic spreadsheet work or advanced calculus. The answer sits in the middle: finance requires comfort with algebra, statistics, and financial formulas — not abstract mathematical proofs. If you can work through formulas step by step, understand what the numbers mean, and build spreadsheet models, you can handle finance coursework.

The National Center for Education Statistics shows that finance and financial management is one of the most awarded business-related degrees1. The degree is popular because it connects directly to high-paying career paths in banking, corporate finance, investment management, and financial planning. The connection between the degree and specific jobs is stronger than in general business.

For career and salary analysis, see the finance degree overview. This page covers exactly what the program demands.

Expert Tip

Financial modeling in Excel is the single most important practical skill for finance careers, and most programs do not teach it thoroughly enough. Teach yourself to build three-statement models (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement linked together), discounted cash flow analyses, and sensitivity tables. These skills are tested in every competitive finance internship interview, and candidates who can model confidently get offers over those who only know theory.

Core Coursework: What Every Finance Major Takes

Finance programs sit within business schools, so you take the standard business core plus specialized finance courses.

Business core (first two years):

  • Principles of Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting — reading and preparing financial statements. This is the language finance speaks.
  • Microeconomics and Macroeconomics — market behavior and economic systems. Foundation for understanding financial markets.
  • Business Statistics — probability, hypothesis testing, and regression. Foundation for financial analysis.
  • Business Calculus or Calculus I — derivatives and basic optimization. Used in finance theory courses.
  • Business Law — contracts, securities regulation, and corporate governance.

Finance core (junior and senior years):

  • Corporate Finance/Financial Management — time value of money, capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure, and dividend policy. The foundational finance course.
  • Investments — portfolio theory, asset pricing (CAPM, multi-factor models), bond valuation, and derivatives basics.
  • Financial Markets and Institutions — how banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, and capital markets function.
  • Financial Statement Analysis — analyzing corporate financial health using ratios, trends, and comparative analysis.
  • International Finance — exchange rates, international capital flows, and managing currency risk.
  • Financial Modeling — building Excel-based models for valuation, forecasting, and scenario analysis. Not offered everywhere as a separate course.
  • Risk Management — identifying, measuring, and managing financial risks. Insurance, hedging, and portfolio risk.
  • Senior Capstone or Portfolio Management Simulation — managing a simulated or real investment portfolio and presenting results.
120
Credit hours for a standard finance bachelor's degree, with approximately 18-24 credits in finance-specific courses beyond the business core
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BA vs BS/BBA: Which Track Is Right for You?

BBA or BS in Finance — the standard professional track. Heavy business and finance coursework with limited liberal arts electives. This is what most finance employers expect.

BA in Finance — less common, with more room for humanities electives and potentially a foreign language requirement. Can work for students who want to combine finance with international studies or liberal arts.

For finance careers, the degree type (BA vs BS vs BBA) matters far less than your coursework, GPA, internships, and technical skills. Employers look at what you can do, not what letters are on your diploma.

Common Concentrations and Specializations

Corporate finance — financial planning, capital budgeting, and treasury management for corporations. The broadest and most common career path.

Investment management — portfolio management, equity research, and asset allocation. Leads to careers at investment firms, hedge funds, and wealth management companies.

Banking — commercial banking, credit analysis, and lending. Strong job market with clear entry-level positions at regional and national banks.

Financial planning — personal financial advising, retirement planning, and wealth management. Leads to CFP certification and careers at financial advisory firms.

Real estate finance — property valuation, mortgage markets, and real estate investment. Some programs offer this as a separate concentration.

Fintech — financial technology, blockchain, and digital banking. Growing area where finance meets technology.

Important

Finance is one of the most GPA-sensitive majors for career outcomes. Investment banking, private equity, and top-tier financial firms use 3.5+ GPA as a hard cutoff in initial resume screens. If your GPA is below 3.0, you are excluded from many competitive finance paths regardless of your other qualifications. Take your GPA seriously from day one — it is much harder to raise a low GPA than to maintain a high one.

Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

Like most business majors, finance typically requires admission to the business school after completing pre-business prerequisites.

Common prerequisites for business school admission:

  • Principles of Accounting I and II (minimum B recommended)
  • Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
  • Business Statistics
  • Business Calculus or Calculus I
  • English Composition (two semesters)
  • Minimum cumulative GPA (2.5 to 3.0 at most programs)

For specific finance courses:

  • Corporate Finance requires Accounting and Statistics as prerequisites
  • Investments requires Corporate Finance as a prerequisite
  • Financial Modeling may require proficiency with Excel
Did You Know

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation is the most respected credential in investment management, and you can begin pursuing it during your senior year. The CFA Institute allows students to register for the Level I exam within their final year of undergraduate study. The curriculum overlaps significantly with finance major coursework, giving you a head start. The full CFA program requires three exam levels and four years of qualifying work experience2.

Skills You'll Build (and What Employers Actually Value)

Financial analysis — evaluating company performance, industry trends, and investment opportunities using financial statements and market data. This is the core applied skill of the degree.

Excel modeling — building financial models for valuation, forecasting, and scenario analysis. The most immediately testable skill in finance interviews.

Quantitative reasoning — working with financial formulas, interpreting statistical output, and making data-driven recommendations.

Presentation and communication — finance professionals regularly present recommendations to clients, managers, and investment committees. The ability to explain financial analysis in clear terms is valued highly.

Understanding of markets — how financial markets function, what drives asset prices, and how economic events affect investments. This contextual knowledge takes years to develop and starts in your coursework.

What Nobody Tells You About Finance Requirements

Accounting is the secret prerequisite for everything. The first two accounting courses are the foundation that all finance courses build on. If you do not genuinely understand financial statements from accounting class, every subsequent finance course will feel harder than it should. Take accounting seriously even if it is not your favorite subject.

The internship is more important than any course. Finance hiring — particularly in investment banking, asset management, and corporate finance at large companies — is internship-driven. Companies extend full-time offers to their summer interns, and getting that first internship often requires networking that starts during sophomore year.

Bloomberg Terminal and financial data platforms are industry standard. Some programs provide Bloomberg Terminal access; many do not. If your school has a Bloomberg lab, use it. Bloomberg certification (Bloomberg Market Concepts) is a free credential that signals interest and initiative to employers.

Networking is not a soft skill in finance — it is the hiring process. Finance recruiting at competitive firms happens through information sessions, coffee chats, and warm introductions long before formal applications open. Students who treat networking as an afterthought miss the primary hiring channel.

The CFA and other certifications add value after the degree. The CFA for investment management, CFP for financial planning, and FRM for risk management are professional certifications that complement the degree and signal specialization to employers. Plan for these early, as exam preparation is substantial.

For comparison with related majors, see accounting degree requirements for the other core business discipline, and economics degree requirements for a more theoretical and less career-specific approach to understanding financial systems.

FAQ

How much math does a finance degree require?

Most programs require business calculus or Calculus I, business statistics, and sometimes an additional quantitative methods course. The math in finance courses is formula-driven: time value of money calculations, present value analysis, and statistical measures of risk. If you can follow formulas and work through problems step by step, the math is manageable. It is not abstract or proof-based like pure mathematics.

What is the difference between a finance degree and an accounting degree?

Finance focuses on managing money, investments, and financial planning for the future. Accounting focuses on recording, reporting, and auditing financial transactions that have already occurred. Finance is forward-looking and analytical; accounting is compliance-oriented and detail-focused. Both require strong quantitative skills, but the career paths diverge after the first few years.

Can I work on Wall Street with a finance degree from any school?

Technically yes, but practically the path is much harder from non-target schools. Wall Street firms (investment banks, hedge funds) recruit heavily from a set of "target schools" with established relationships. If your school is not a target, you can still break in through exceptional GPA, strong networking, internships at regional firms, and persistence — but the process requires significantly more effort.

Is a finance degree worth more than a general business degree?

For finance-specific careers (banking, investment management, corporate finance), a finance degree is more competitive because it signals specific knowledge and training. For general management roles, the difference is smaller. Finance graduates have higher average starting salaries than general business graduates according to most salary surveys. See is a finance degree worth it for detailed data.

Should I get a finance degree or study economics?

Choose finance if you want direct career preparation for financial services, banking, or corporate finance roles. Choose economics if you want deeper analytical and theoretical training with flexibility across careers including policy, consulting, data analysis, and graduate school. Economics is more rigorous mathematically; finance is more directly applied. See the economics degree overview for a comparison.

Do I need an MBA after a finance degree?

Not necessarily. An MBA can accelerate career advancement, particularly for transitioning into senior management or switching from one finance sector to another. However, many successful finance careers progress without an MBA, especially with professional certifications (CFA, CFP) and strong work experience. An MBA is most valuable if pursued after 3-5 years of work experience with a clear strategic purpose.

More on this degree:

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Footnotes

  1. National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Digest of Education Statistics: Table 322.10 — Bachelor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by field of study. NCES. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_322.10.asp ↩

  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Financial Analysts. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm ↩

  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Personal Financial Advisors. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm ↩