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Finance executive education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a finance executive. Finance executives usually study accounting, business, or finance. 67% of finance executives hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,359 real finance executive resumes to see exactly what finance executive education sections show.
The most common colleges for finance executives are the Pace University and the Pace University.
There are also many online finance executive courses to help get the education required to be a finance executive.
There are certain finance executive certifications that you should consider. These finance executive certifications include Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
What education do you need to become a finance executive?
What degree do you need to be a finance executive?
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 4%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a finance executive?
- Accounting, 23%
- Business, 23%
- Finance, 20%
- Other Majors, 26%
Most common colleges for finance executives
| Finance executive common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pace University | 8.41% |
| University of Phoenix | 8.41% |
| DePaul University | 7.48% |
| University of California - Davis | 6.54% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 6.54% |
Best majors for finance executives
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 23.1% |
| 2 | Business | 22.8% |
| 3 | Finance | 19.8% |
| 4 | Business/Commerce | 7.5% |
| 5 | Economics | 4.9% |
Best colleges for finance executives
The best colleges for finance executives are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
A finance executive 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 executives. 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 executives.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$49,880
Enrollment
4,177
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
20 best online courses for finance executives
Advertising disclosure
1. Financial Statement Auditing Cycles
In this course, we learn how public accountants plan and execute an audit...
2. 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...
3. Principles of Financial Accounting
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
4. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement
Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
5. 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...
6. Audit - Financial Statement
Master the Art of Auditing Financial Statements: In-Depth Analysis, Techniques, and Real-World Case Studies...
7. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
8. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training
Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...
9. Financial Accounting: The Complete Introductory Crash Course
Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting: Financial Statements, Debits and Credits, The Accounting Cycle and More!...
10. Finance for Non Finance Executives
Accounting and Finance Fundamentals for Non Finance Executives...
11. Microsoft Excel for Finance, Accounting & Financial Analysis
Excel tips & tricks for Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis. Learn from the Bestselling Accounting Instructor...
12. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction
Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...
13. Financial Statement Analysis
Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...
14. Financial Accounting: A Comprehensive Guide with E-book
Unlock Financial Accounting Mastery: Comprehensive Course for Students, Professionals, and Business Owners...
15. Financial Accounting & Excel-Comprehensive Accounting Course
Comprehensive accounting course to learn the accounting cycle in a practical way and pick up critical Excel fundamentals...
16. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals
Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...
17. Introductory Financial Accounting
Learn the basics of Accounting including: the accounting cycle, inventory, depreciation, receivables, and more!...
18. Financial Accounting-Depreciation Calculation & Fixed Assets
Optimizing Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide to Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounting...
19. Accounting Made Easy: A Quick Guide to Financial Accounting
Accounting is not about Math, it is about concepts. And no one said it has to be hard. Learn the basics in just 2 hours!...
20. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts
A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...
Top 10 most affordable universities for finance executives
The most affordable schools for finance executives are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.
If the best universities for finance executives 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 executives.
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 executives
The hardest universities for finance executives to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.
Some great schools for finance executives 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 executives 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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
4. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
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. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,422
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for finance executives
The easiest schools for finance executives 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 executive 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 executives.
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. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
8. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,017
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 executive salary by education level
| Finance executive education level | Finance executive salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $149,056 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $95,351 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $125,405 |
| Doctorate Degree | $158,799 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $95,335 |
Finance executive education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025