Key Takeaways
- Finance degrees build skills in data analysis, financial modeling, and strategic decision-making across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
- Graduates pursue roles like financial analyst, investment banker, financial planner, and risk manager with strong earning potential and job growth.
- Programs blend technical coursework with soft skills like communication and ethical reasoning, essential for leadership in finance.
If you're someone who enjoys working with numbers, thinking strategically, seeing how organizations make financial decisions, and solving problems that influence long-term outcomes, a finance degree could be the ideal fit.
Finance tends to draw in those who like connecting details to bigger patterns: spotting shifts in performance, interpreting market signals, guiding budgets that support growth, or strengthening the financial health of an organization. It's a direction for anyone who's curious about why certain choices work better than others and who enjoys using analytical thinking to make a difference.
What Is a Finance Degree?
A finance degree provides students with a structured understanding of how financial systems operate across corporations, governments, and individual institutions. It emphasizes the principles of financial decision-making, investment analysis, capital markets, and risk assessment.
Although finance shares common ground with accounting and economics, it is distinct in both focus and application. Accounting centers on the accurate recording and reporting of financial information. Finance builds on that foundation to develop forecasts, analyze performance, and support decision-making aimed at maximizing value. Economics, by contrast, studies larger systems and market behavior, while finance concentrates on applying those insights to the management of assets, liabilities, and capital within organizations.
| Degree | Focus | Viewpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Document what the organization is doing financially | Looks backward at actual results |
| Finance | Decide how to use financial resources | Looks forward at what should happen next |
| Economics | Understand the environment organizations operate in | Looks outward at why outcomes happen |
Types of Finance Degrees
Finance education is offered at multiple academic levels, each aligned with distinct career goals and stages of professional development.
Bachelor’s in Finance
A Bachelor's in Finance typically requires four years of full-time study and introduces students to the foundational concepts of financial management, capital markets, and investment analysis. Core coursework often includes accounting, statistics, corporate finance, and investment theory, with many programs requiring strong high school preparation in mathematics and related subjects.
For students exploring this path at Santa Clara University, the finance major is offered through the Bachelor of Science in Commerce. The program blends theory with real-world application, teaching students how financial principles guide decisions in today's organizations. Consistent with the school's Jesuit mission, the curriculum also integrates conversations about ethics and responsibility in financial practice.
Graduates are well-positioned for entry-level roles such as a financial analyst or junior portfolio manager. Santa Clara students interested in the real estate side of the industry can also pursue a dedicated Real Estate Minor, which expands their job opportunities in areas connected to real estate finance.
Master’s in Finance (MSF or MBA in Finance)
A graduate-level finance degree offers advanced preparation in financial strategy, modeling, and valuation. Master of Science in Finance (MSF) programs tend to focus on technical and analytical skills, while MBA programs with a finance concentration integrate financial training into broader leadership and business strategy education.
At Santa Clara University, the M.S. in Finance and Analytics (MSFA) is structured for flexibility and depth. Students can complete the program in as little as nine months full-time or approximately 16 months part-time. The curriculum combines hands-on learning with instruction from faculty and Bay Area professionals, and includes evening and weekend classes to accommodate working professionals. It blends core finance knowledge with analytical tools, helping students understand financial decisions and the data that drives them.
Graduates emerge with strong quantitative skills and a deep understanding of financial principles, prepared for roles in corporate finance, investment management, private equity, and capital markets. They also gain access to a powerful professional network of over 25,000 Leavey School of Business alumni and more than 100,000 Santa Clara University alumni.
Doctorate in Finance
A Ph.D. in Finance is intended for individuals pursuing careers in academic research, university teaching, or policy analysis. Doctoral programs emphasize financial theory, empirical methods, and econometric modeling, often preparing students to publish scholarly research and contribute to the advancement of the field.
This path is ideal for those interested in developing original research in finance and working at the intersection of theory and policy, rather than pursuing applied finance roles in industry.
Core Subjects You’ll Study
Finance as a discipline brings together analytical reasoning, quantitative techniques, computational thinking, and applied decision-making. Students studying finance learn to interpret complex datasets, evaluate financial performance over time, navigate risk, and develop strategies that support long-term organizational goals.
Typical areas of study include financial management, investment analysis, forecasting, and data analytics, supported by courses in mathematics, statistics, and programming.
At Santa Clara University, the M.S. in Finance and Analytics builds on these fundamentals through a curriculum that unites theory with practice. The program totals 36 academic units, including 22 core units, 10 elective units, and four units of experiential learning. Whether taken on campus or online, courses are taught by distinguished faculty and experienced Bay Area practitioners, giving students direct exposure to the tools and perspectives used in the finance industry today.
The core curriculum establishes the technical foundation of the program through courses such as:
- Linear Algebra
- Econometrics with R
- Math for Business and Analytics with R
- Investments
- Data Analytics with Python
- Financial Forecasting & Analysis
- Database Management Systems
These subjects build proficiency in quantitative methods and financial modeling while emphasizing applied problem-solving. Students then expand their expertise through specialized electives that reflect emerging trends in finance and technology.
Career Paths With a Finance Degree
A finance degree can lead in many directions—from analyzing company performance to managing investments or advising government policy. At Santa Clara University, finance graduates have followed all of those paths and more.
Many have worked in corporate finance roles at Apple, Dolby, Google, GoPro, and LinkedIn. Others have joined startups, regional firms, or taken positions in government agencies, including the Congressional Budget Office. Some have pursued academic careers, earning PhDs in finance and teaching at the university level while consulting with investment firms and financial institutions.
Some of the most common roles include:
- Financial analyst: tracking performance, building models, and guiding business decisions.
- Investment banker: advising companies on raising capital, mergers, and acquisitions.
- Financial planner or advisor: helping individuals manage investments, plan for retirement, and meet long-term goals.
- Risk manager: identifying and reducing financial risk within organizations.
- Corporate treasurer: overseeing how a company handles its cash, investments, and capital structure.
- Portfolio manager: making investment decisions for individuals, businesses, or funds while managing risk and return.
- Financial manager: leading a company's finance department across budgeting, reporting, and long-term investment strategy.
Average Salary and Job Outlook
Finance continues to offer some of the most financially rewarding and professionally stable career paths across the economy. Roles in this field are essential to business operations, therefore well-compensated and projected to grow steadily over the next decade.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for financial and investment analysts reached $101,350 in 2024. Demand for analysts is expected to grow by 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, with nearly 30,000 openings projected each year due to new demand and workforce turnover.
Finance professionals in leadership roles see even stronger prospects. Financial managers earned a median salary of $161,700, with employment in this role projected to grow 15 percent over the same decade—significantly faster than average. About 74,600 openings are expected annually as companies expand and experienced professionals retire or change fields.
Outcomes for graduates of Santa Clara University's MSFA program also reflect this strong demand. Based on internal data, around 86 percent of students reported being employed within six months of completing the program, demonstrating the practical value of advanced finance education in a competitive job market.
Skills Gained From a Finance Degree
A finance education builds a balanced skill set that equips you to understand, interpret, and act on complex financial information. Technically, you'll gain fluency in data analysis and financial modeling using tools like Excel, along with experience in forecasting, risk assessment, and evaluating investment performance. You'll learn to read between the lines of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports, translating numbers into insights that support better decisions.
Throughout your coursework, you'll also sharpen your ability to solve problems in real-world scenarios and communicate clearly with different audiences. Presenting financial recommendations, collaborating on group projects, and defending proposals teach you how to explain complex concepts in simple terms. Over time, you'll build strategic thinking habits that help you weigh costs, evaluate options, and suggest actions that align with broader business goals.
How to Choose the Right Finance Program
Selecting the right finance program is about finding a place where you receive both the instruction and the support that steer you toward your career goals.
Start by looking at how the program is structured. Does it emphasize applied learning? Are there built-in opportunities for internships, projects, or certifications that actually match the kind of roles you're aiming for? A curriculum might list all the right courses, but how that material is taught—and what students are expected to do with it—can vary a lot between programs.
Support outside the classroom matters just as much. That includes career guidance, events that connect students with professionals, and advisors who understand where you're trying to go. Some programs are transactional. Others are designed to meet you where you are and move you forward.
As Coleman Bigman, a student in the M.S. in Finance and Analytics at the Leavey School of Business, explained:
That kind of environment, where support is personal, not surface-level, can be just as important as the coursework itself. It can affect how motivated you stay, how connected you feel, and how prepared you are to take the next step.
You'll also want to think practically. Cost, scheduling, course format, and internship options can all play a role in how well a program fits your life. So will less obvious things like whether students work while enrolled, how much career support is built in, and whether the program lets you choose electives that match your goals.
The right program builds on what you already know and moves you toward what you want to do next. It gives you access to knowledge, people, and experiences that match your goals in content, but in pace, structure, and opportunity.
Charting Your Financial Future
Studying finance gives you the tools to adapt and grow in banking, insurance, investment, entrepreneurship, or working within a large corporation. A finance degree builds a foundation that applies across sectors. You learn to evaluate risk, interpret performance, and make strategic decisions. These are skills that remain valuable no matter where your path takes you.
Santa Clara University's M.S. in Finance and Analytics reflects that same versatility. The program combines financial theory with real-world analytics and offers flexibility for working professionals. Located in a region shaped by innovation and enterprise, it's built for people who want an education that grows with them—relevant today, and durable over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to earn a finance degree?
A Bachelor's in Finance typically takes four years, while a Master's can be completed in as little as nine months full-time or about 16 months part-time.
Do I need strong math skills to study finance?
Yes, finance programs require solid quantitative skills, including statistics, algebra, and data analysis, but most programs build these skills progressively.
What’s the difference between finance and accounting?
Finance focuses on managing money, investments, and risk to support decision-making and growth, while accounting tracks, records, and reports financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance. In short, finance looks forward; accounting looks back.