Finance manager education requirements

Q: What can you do with a master's degree in finance?

You can get a job in investment banking, corporate finance, and private wealth management with a master's degree in finance. Many upper-level finance positions will require the skills and specialization gained through master's programs. Corporate finance focuses on managing a company's accounts and capital effectively. Entry-level positions in corporate finance require a bachelor's degree, but a master's degree will help you stand out among competitors and have increased earning potential. Investment banking is highly competitive. Holding a master's degree can provide many chances to increase your knowledge and network in the industry. Private wealth management focuses on investments for individuals. You will advise individuals and families on how to best manage their portfolios for specific financial goals. Holding a master's degree will often make you more desirable to potential clients. It ensures that you hold the skills required to help them meet their financial goals.

Q: What degree do you need to be a finance manager?

You need a bachelor's degree to become a finance manager. Additional qualifications may be required, such as additional education or work experience. Obtaining a bachelor's degree in finance, business, economics, or accounting is the best way of securing a position as a finance manager. A master's degree in finance can boost the employability of someone hoping to break into the field of finance management.

Q: What job can you get with a finance degree?

You can get a job as a financial analyst, financial associate, or credit analyst with a finance degree. A finance degree teaches strong quantitative and analytical skills, proficiency in financial software and tools, and the ability to communicate effectively. All of these can help to open up opportunities in the field of finance, banking, investments, and corporate finance, among others.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a finance manager. Finance managers usually study business, accounting, or finance. 66% of finance managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 38,928 real finance manager resumes to see exactly what finance manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for finance managers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online finance manager courses to help get the education required to be a finance manager.

There are certain finance manager certifications that you should consider. These finance manager certifications include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA).

What education do you need to become a finance manager?

What degree do you need to be a finance manager?

The most common degree for finance managers is bachelor's degree, with 66% of finance managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 17% and master's degree degree at 9%.

Bachelor's, 66%

Master's, 17%

Associate, 9%

High School Diploma, 4%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a finance manager?

You should major in business to become a finance manager. 31% of finance managers major in business. Other common majors for a finance manager include accounting and finance.

Business, 31%

Accounting, 29%

Finance, 18%

Economics, 4%

Other Majors, 18%

Most common colleges for finance managers

Finance managers often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Maryland - College Park. Here are the most common colleges for finance managers in the US based on their resumes.

Finance manager common college	Percentages
University of Phoenix	17.00%
Pennsylvania State University	5.83%
University of Maryland - College Park	5.41%
New York University	5.29%
Brigham Young University	4.68%

Show more common finance manager colleges

Best majors for finance managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	30.9%
2	Accounting	28.6%
3	Finance	17.6%
4	Economics	4.0%
5	Management	2.8%

Show more common finance manager majors

Best colleges for finance managers

The best colleges for finance managers are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

A finance manager 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 managers. 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 managers.

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 managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Bank Reconciliations & Cash Internal Controls

4.5

(645)

Mastering Internal Controls and Cash Management: Safeguarding Business Assets and Ensuring Financial Accuracy...

2. Microsoft Excel for Finance, Accounting & Financial Analysis

4.5

(1,596)

Excel tips & tricks for Accounting, Finance and Financial Analysis. Learn from the Bestselling Accounting Instructor...

3. Finance & Accounting for Management Consultants and Analysts

4.4

(430)

A practical guide that will help you understand financial statements & do financial analyses during consulting projects...

4. Financial Accounting-Adjusting Entries & Financial Statement

4.6

(930)

Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...

5. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study

4.8

(268)

Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...

6. Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Stmt, Cash Flow

4.5

(574)

How To Quickly Read & Understand The Big 3 Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement...

7. Principles of Financial Accounting

4.5

(875)

Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...

8. Accounting, Finance and Banking - A Comprehensive Study

4.6

(551)

Learn Fundamentals to Advanced Concepts of three different but interrelated domains in a single course...

9. Accounting & Financial Statement Analysis: Complete Training

4.6

(16,804)

Accounting & Financial Ratio Analysis made easy. Learn important accounting skills that will get your foot in the door!...

10. Payroll Accounting: Laws, Calculations, and Journal Entries

4.4

(1,649)

Master the complex world of payroll with practical examples, legislation insights, and comprehensive problems...

11. Finance for Non Finance Executives

4.6

(929)

Accounting and Finance Fundamentals for Non Finance Executives...

12. Financial Statement Analysis

4.7

(255)

Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...

13. The Complete Introduction To Accounting and Finance

4.3

(1,879)

The Original Course on Accounting & Finance! It's easy once you know the basics. Learn introductory accounting & finance...

14. The Complete Finance Manager Course

4.6

(5,357)

Financial Management, ERP systems, Accounting, Capital budgeting, Presentation design, Management, and Negotiation...

15. Financial Accounting - Subsidiary Ledgers & Special Journals

4.5

(580)

Mastering Special Journals and Subsidiary Ledgers: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlined Accounting Practices...

16. The Personal Finance and Wealth Management Masterclass

4.4

(334)

Become an Expert in Personal Finance and Investing. Learn MBA-Level Financial Analysis. Master Finance Fundamentals...

17. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.

4.5

(811)

Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...

18. Introduction to Finance, Accounting, Modeling and Valuation

4.5

(30,719)

Learn Finance & Accounting from Scratch by an Award Winning MBA Professor, Ivy Grad, worked @ Goldman & VC...

19. Corporate Finance #1 Introduction & Financial Statements

4.3

(510)

Navigating the Intersection of Finance, Accounting, and Economics for Effective Corporate Decision-Making...

20. Complete Financial Modeling for Project Finance in Excel

4.6

(589)

Learn Financial Modeling for Project Finance and Infrastructure Valuation ( DCF and IRR )...

Top 10 most affordable universities for finance managers

The most affordable schools for finance managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, usf sarasota-manatee, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for finance managers 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 managers.

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 managers

The hardest universities for finance managers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for finance managers 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 managers 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

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

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 managers

The easiest schools for finance managers 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 manager 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 managers.

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 manager salary by education level

Finance managers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $132,322 annually. With a Master's degree, finance managers earn a median annual income of $126,259 compared to $111,090 for finance managers with an Bachelor's degree.

Finance manager education level	Finance manager salary
Master's Degree	$126,259
High School Diploma or Less	$90,684
Bachelor's Degree	$111,090
Doctorate Degree	$132,322
Some College/ Associate Degree	$90,673

Finance manager education FAQs

What can you do with a master's degree in finance?

What degree do you need to be a finance manager?

What job can you get with a finance degree?

What is the best college for Finance Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search for finance manager jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs