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Futures trader education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a futures trader. Futures traders usually study finance, business, or economics. 81% of futures traders hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 570 real futures trader resumes to see exactly what futures trader education sections show.
The most common colleges for futures traders are the DePaul University and the DePaul University.
There are also many online futures trader courses to help get the education required to be a futures trader.
What education do you need to become a futures trader?
What degree do you need to be a futures trader?
- Bachelor's, 81%
- Master's, 13%
- Associate, 3%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a futures trader?
- Finance, 28%
- Business, 23%
- Economics, 16%
- Accounting, 3%
- Other Majors, 30%
Most common colleges for futures traders
| Futures trader common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DePaul University | 15.18% |
| University of Illinois at Chicago | 7.14% |
| Northwestern University | 7.14% |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | 5.36% |
| University of Iowa | 5.36% |
Best majors for futures traders
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | 28.5% |
| 2 | Business | 22.8% |
| 3 | Economics | 15.7% |
| 4 | Accounting | 3.4% |
| 5 | Marketing | 3.4% |
Best colleges for futures traders
The best colleges for futures traders are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
A futures trader with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for futures traders. 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 futures traders.
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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
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 futures traders
Advertising disclosure
1. Derivatives - Options & Futures
While investing and trading in the options market may seem somewhat more daunting than other asset classes such as stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, currencies and commodities, you’ll ultimately find that their complexity can be boiled down to simple concepts you’ll be able to understand and use the more you’re exposed to, and have hands-on experience with the material. Our aim is for you to acquire these skills, as well as the know-how, to invest and trade in these often-complex financial...
2. Futures Thinking
Do you want to think about the future with more creativity and optimism? Do you want to see what’s coming faster, so you can be better prepared for disruptions and more in control of your future? Do you want to get better at changing what’s possible today – in your company, your industry, your community, and in your own life?\n\nThis Specialization will introduce you to the practice of futures thinking, as developed and applied for the past 50 years by the Institute for the Future, a...
3. Futures/Commodity Trading
Learn how to trade futures/commodities like a Pro!...
4. Day Trading and Swing Trading Futures with Price Action.
Reduce risk day trading futures, swing trading futures or any financial trading using price action...
5. Forecasting Skills: See the Future Before it Happens
For many people, the future comes as a surprise – or even a shock. But with strong forecasting skills, YOU can avoid future shock. You can adapt faster, and become better prepared to benefit from change. In this course, you’ll build your future forecasting skills. You'll learn how to turn groups of "signals" (clues about the future) and "drivers" (global forces that influence the direction of change) into compelling future forecasts. Forecasts help you discover new possibilities and...
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Learn Derivatives from Real Data on NSE; A Risk Management Approach; Covers Stock Futures & Options, Commodities...
8. Introduction to Futures & Options
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9. Being Smart about Cycling Futures
What is the future of cycling in our cities that struggle to transition to more sustainable and inclusive forms of mobility? What is the role of innovation in ensuring that cycling becomes easier, safer and more accessible for different groups of people? What are Great Bikes and what are Great Cycling Cities? In this course we tackle these questions, but we do so without providing recipes, one-size-fits-all solutions or rankings of innovations. Instead, this course helps you to develop your own...
10. Decentralized Finance (DeFi): The Future of Finance
DeFi and the Future of Finance is a four course learning experience. DeFi or Decentralized Finance is a new technology whereby users interact as peers with algorithms or smart contracts rather than through traditional intermediaries such as banks, brokerages or insurance companies. The technology has the potential to transform finance as we know it. It solves key problems in traditional finance such as lack of inclusion, inefficiency, opacity, centralized control and lack of...
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The Bigger Picture: The Probable Future of Energy...
12. Capital Markets Immersion: A Financial Markets Introduction
Capital Markets Financial Markets Financial Risk Financial Math Yield Curves Derivatives Swaps Options...
13. Simulation Skills: This is Your Brain on the Future
Do you want to learn how to simulate the future more creatively and more effectively? This course is for you. Humans are the only living creatures with the ability to think about and make plans for the long- term future. Even so, our brains don’t always make it easy. Over the past decade, scientists have discovered a number of neurological “road blocks” to effective futures thinking. These glitches in the brain make it harder for us to accurately predict how we’ll feel and what we’re likely to...
14. People, Technology and the Future of Mobility
Welcome to the People, Technology, and the Future of Mobility course! This course provides a lay-person’s introduction to some of the major technological innovations currently underway in the mobility space and asks learners to apply a variety of social science concepts to understand the likely social impacts of these technologies. The course is appropriate for learners from all backgrounds and does not require prior training in engineering or social science. The content presented in this...
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17. Mastering Market Profile Trading: Professional Analysis Tool
No nonsense crash course in Market Profile: The most commonly used analysis tool of professional daytraders...
18. Comprehensive Guide to Financial Markets, Investing &Trading
A comprehensive (advanced) introduction to global financial markets, investing and trading in all financial assets...
19. Understanding Yield Curve Dynamics and Market Applications
Financial Math Yield Curves Bonds Duration Spot Rates Forward Rates Total Return Analysis...
20. GREEN HYDROGEN: THE FUEL OF THE FUTURE
A Fundamental course on Green hydrogen Production, Hydrogen Technology, Hydrogen Fuel, Hydrogen Energy, Hydrogen Fuel...
Top 10 most affordable universities for futures traders
The most affordable schools for futures traders are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.
If the best universities for futures traders 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 futures traders.
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. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
3. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
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 - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
6. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
7. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for futures traders
The hardest universities for futures traders to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for futures traders 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 futures traders 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
10. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for futures traders
The easiest schools for futures traders to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame college, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a futures trader 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 futures traders.
1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
4. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
5. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
6. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
7. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
8. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,033
9. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Camden
Camden, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,086
10. Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,026
Average futures trader salary by education level
| Futures trader education level | Futures trader salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $139,162 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $109,643 |
| Doctorate Degree | $127,300 |
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025