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Finance consultant education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a finance consultant. Finance consultants usually study business, accounting, or finance. 72% of finance consultants hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 15,918 real finance consultant resumes to see exactly what finance consultant education sections show.
The most common colleges for finance consultants are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online finance consultant courses to help get the education required to be a finance consultant.
There are certain finance consultant certifications that you should consider. These finance consultant certifications include Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become a finance consultant?
What degree do you need to be a finance consultant?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a finance consultant?
- Business, 29%
- Accounting, 20%
- Finance, 20%
- Economics, 7%
- Other Majors, 24%
Most common colleges for finance consultants
| Finance consultant common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 10.58% |
| New York University | 7.94% |
| Pace University | 6.25% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 5.88% |
| Arizona State University | 5.51% |
Best majors for finance consultants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 28.8% |
| 2 | Accounting | 20.4% |
| 3 | Finance | 20.1% |
| 4 | Economics | 6.7% |
| 5 | Political Science | 3.0% |
Best colleges for finance consultants
The best colleges for finance consultants are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
A finance consultant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for finance consultants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become finance consultants.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
3. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-state tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
5. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
8. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
9. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
20 best online courses for finance consultants
Advertising disclosure
1. Financial Analysis for Management Consultants & Analysts
A practical guide with case studies and examples of financial analyses done during consulting projects...
2. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.
Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...
3. Financial Modeling for Business Analysts and Consultants
Learn Financial Modeling in Excel that will allow you to participate in due diligence, strategy or turn around projects...
4. Financial Statement Analysis
Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...
5. Complete Financial Modeling for Project Finance in Excel
Learn Financial Modeling for Project Finance and Infrastructure Valuation ( DCF and IRR )...
6. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts
A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...
7. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
8. Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Stmt, Cash Flow
How To Quickly Read & Understand The Big 3 Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement...
9. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
10. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
11. Value Investing: The Complete Financial Statement Analysis
Value Investing Mastery - How to Perform Financial Statement Analysis & Financial Ratio Analysis to Find Great Stocks...
12. Financial Planning Coaching Certification Holistic Coaching
Financial Planning Coaching Practitioner Course Graduates Prepared Professionals in Holistic Financial Planning Coaching...
13. The Advanced Real Estate Financial Modeling Bootcamp
The Complete Guide To Advanced Real Estate Financial Modeling For Real Estate Investment Professionals...
14. Financial Analysis and Financial Modeling using MS Excel
Perform financial analysis & financial modeling using Microsoft excel. For people who want to become a Financial Analyst...
15. Personal Finance: Financial Security Thinking & Principles
How to secure your financial future the fun & easy way! Personal Finance: Financial Security Thinking & Principles...
16. Financial Statement Analysis - Master the Financial Stmts!
Gain a comprehensive knowledge of the 3 financial statements and how to make them tell you a story...
17. Investment Banking: The Complete Financial Ratio Analysis
Investment Banking For Investors & Financial Analysts - How to Perform Financial Statement Analysis & Company Valuation...
18. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
19. Financial Statements Analysis for absolute beginners
Understand Financial Statements and Analyze Financial Statements for Business and Financial Analysis...
20. Financial Statement Analysis - Ratio Analysis
Master the Art of Financial Statement Analysis: Unlocking Insights through Vertical, Horizontal, and Ratio Analysis...
Top 10 most affordable universities for finance consultants
The most affordable schools for finance consultants are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for finance consultants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for finance consultants.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
2. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
3. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for finance consultants
The hardest universities for finance consultants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.
Some great schools for finance consultants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for finance consultants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions rate
43%
SAT average
1,338
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
10. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for finance consultants
The easiest schools for finance consultants to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a finance consultant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for finance consultants.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
7. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
8. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
9. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average finance consultant salary by education level
| Finance consultant education level | Finance consultant salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $84,020 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $79,644 |
| Doctorate Degree | $88,278 |
Finance consultant education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025