How To Get An Online Finance Degree

The field of finance is dynamic and can be very lucrative. Since everyone should have a hold on their personal finances, both businesses and individuals alike hire experts to manage their money. With an online finance degree, you can learn everything you need to know to work in the industry.

As an industry, finance contributes greatly to the economy and has a high demand for jobs. Even so, there’s no doubt that it’s still very competitive. This is why it’s important to earn the degree that’s relevant for the position you wish to attain. No matter the level of degree you’re looking for, an online finance degree might be just what you need.

Where do you start and how do you get an online finance degree? We will break down all you need to know about earning a degree online.

What is a Degree in Finance?

Degrees in finance tend to be centered around business knowledge and financial management. The degrees tend to have core classes in communication, entrepreneurship, risk management, taxation, and financial reporting.

You can earn a finance degree at whatever level you choose, each with its own respective requirements for graduation. From an associate degree to a doctorate degree, the choice is highly dependent on what kind of job you will want in the future.

A degree in finance is a good option for those looking to work in the field for the first time, or to gain more knowledge and move up the career ladder. For anyone looking to change their career path entirely and try something new, an online finance degree opens the door to endless possibilities.

What Positions Can I Attain?

With a finance degree, you can fill many different types of positions. The majority of businesses, both big and small, will hire a financial professional or team of professionals to help manage their financial operations. This is true of banks, corporations, schools, consulting firms, and financial agencies.

So, depending on the type of work environment you seek, you will likely be able to find what you’re looking for with a degree.

Let’s take a look at some of the job titles in the field:

Finance Officer

A financial officer is also called a financial manager. They take care of operations at banks and other types of financial companies like credit unions.

Financial Advisor

If you mix a financial planner and investment advisor, you’ll have a financial advisor. They help people to achieve their financial goals and invest their money wisely.

Loan Officer

Loan officers review applications to assess how creditworthy a potential borrower is. They evaluate if an individual is eligible or not for a loan.

Investment Banker

When a corporation is looking to raise funds, they turn to an investment banker. These individuals help corporations find funds and also help to manage situations like mergers and acquisitions.

What Will I Learn?

Choosing to earn your education online doesn’t mean you will lose out on any quality when compared to traditional education on a campus. In fact, online education tends to benefit students in more ways than one, including offering flexible scheduling, an affordable alternative for education, and ways to connect with peers digitally.

In an online finance degree, you can bank on taking classes like:

• Corporate Finance
• Wealth Management
• Multinational Corporate Finance
• Financial Markets
• Fundamentals of Investments

Along with the core courses, online degrees can help you learn how to master transferable skills, including:

• Independence
• Time management
• Stress management
• Communication skills
• Technical abilities

How Much Does an Online Finance Degree Cost?

An online finance degree’s cost depends on a few variables, but it will vary less than on-campus institutions (since those tend to depend on residency and type of institution).

Depending on the type of degree you want to earn, you’ll have to pay per credit unit. As you likely already understand, an associate’s degree (about 2 years of study)  requires less credits than a bachelor’s degree (about 4 years of study) and so on.

Overall, it’s safe to estimate that online degree programs tend to cost $200 to $600 per credit unit. This means that total tuition can range between $24,000-$75,000 roughly. For students who need financial aid, you always have the option to explore scholarships, grants, and loans.

Furthermore, you can choose to attend a tuition-free online program, like the University of the People. While the University of the People doesn’t have a finance degree specifically, we do offer a program in Business Administration with the option to earn an associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree (MBA). The university also offers a specialized certificate program in finance to give one’s career the right boost.

Choosing an Accredited Program

Finding the online finance degree that is right for you is a completely subjective task; however, it’s important to look for a program that is accredited. Accreditation is important because it is performed by a third party outside of the online institution to verify the program’s credibility.

In the United States, online schools with accreditation are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and employers alike to verify that the program delivers on its promised education.

If you’re busy wondering, the answer is yes — the University of the People is indeed accredited!

No matter where you choose to earn your online finance degree, be sure to look into its accreditation status before enrolling.

Photo by Tyler Franta on Unsplash

Final Thoughts

Obtaining your online finance degree can prepare you well to enter entry-level positions in the field and grow from there. The outlook for the field is expected to be trending upwards between 2018 and 2028 by a growth rate of about 7%.

If you decide that an online degree is suitable, then you can also look into joining organizations and networking with business professionals while you earn your degree. This will make it easier to find a job upon graduation, or even to land an internship while you study.

For some professions in the field of finance, like a CPA, you’ll have to take and pass specific credentialing exams. To make sure you’re prepared for the type of job you want in the field of finance, perform the research on the job requirements before enrolling in any online degree program.