Finance major
Finance: courses, careers, and where to study
Finance majors learn how money moves, corporate finance, investments, financial markets, and risk management, preparing for roles in banking, investments, and corporate analysis.
A Finance major builds on the business core with deeper coursework in corporate finance, investments, derivatives, financial markets, real estate, international finance, and behavioral finance. Many programs offer concentrations in Investments, Corporate Finance, Real Estate, or FinTech. The CFA Institute publishes a recognized curriculum that some Finance programs align with, check whether your school is a CFA Affiliated University Program.
Finance graduates work in commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, corporate treasury, insurance, real estate, and FinTech. The major pairs well with a CS minor or double major for quantitative finance roles.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Finance maps to CIP 52.0801, Finance, General, within the BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES family. The official definition:
A program that generally prepares individuals to plan, manage, and analyze the financial and monetary aspects and performance of business enterprises, banking institutions, or other organizations. Includes instruction in principles of accounting, financial instruments, capital planning, funds acquisition, asset and debt management, budgeting, financial analysis, and investments and portfolio management.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What you'll study
- Corporate finance and capital structure
- Investments and portfolio theory
- Derivatives and risk management
- Financial markets and institutions
- International finance
- Real-estate finance
- Financial modeling in Excel
- Time-value-of-money and valuation
Typical careers
- Financial Analyst
- Investment Banking Analyst
- Portfolio Manager
- Risk Analyst
- Corporate Treasurer
- Wealth Management Advisor
Typical salary range: $62,000–$95,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 financial and investment analysts median $101,350)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Finance. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.
- Chief Executives
- General and Operations Managers
- Financial Managers
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
- Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
- Budget Analysts
- Credit Analysts
- Financial and Investment Analysts
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Financial Risk Specialists
- Loan Officers
- Financial Specialists, All Other
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.
Before you commit to a Finance major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Finance program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Finance department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Finance program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Finance programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Related majors
Business Administration
Business Administration is the most popular U.S. major, a broad foundation in accounting, finance, marketing, management, and economics that prepares graduates for nearly any industry.
Accounting
Accounting prepares graduates for the CPA exam and careers in public accounting, corporate finance, audit, tax, and forensic accounting, a major with high job placement.
Economics
Economics studies how individuals, firms, and governments allocate resources, combining theory with empirical analysis and a strong mathematical foundation.
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.