Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Dr. Wayne Durr,
Octavian Ionici PhD
The educational requirements for a finance analyst are a bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, economics, or management. According to Dr. Octavian Ionici PhD, Sr. Lecturer in Finance at American University, "Hard core financial modeling skills are a must for finance, especially now with algorithmic business applications multiplying with the emergence of AI." Additionally, Dr. Wayne Durr, Finance Professor at Stonehill College, emphasizes the importance of keeping up with new financial technologies and developing strong soft skills to increase earning potential.
What education do you need to become a finance analyst?
What degree do you need to be a finance analyst?
- Bachelor's, 76%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a finance analyst?
According to Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®, Professor of Economics and Management at Albion College, the best majors for a finance analyst are business, accounting, finance, economics, and mathematics. He encourages students to double major or minor in data analytics, computer science, or math for the top jobs in finance.
- Business, 28%
- Accounting, 25%
- Finance, 24%
- Economics, 7%
- Other Majors, 16%
Most common colleges for finance analysts
| Finance Analyst Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 13.22% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 5.90% |
| University of Houston | 5.49% |
| University of California - Davis | 5.42% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 5.11% |
Show more common finance analyst colleges
Best majors for finance analysts
According to Dr. Jon Hooks Ph.D., CFA, CFP®, Professor of Economics and Management at Albion College, the best majors for a finance analyst are business, accounting, finance, economics, and mathematics. He encourages students to double major or minor in data analytics, computer science, or math for the top jobs in finance.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 28.0% |
| 2 | Accounting | 25.5% |
| 3 | Finance | 24.5% |
| 4 | Economics | 6.6% |
| 5 | Management | 2.4% |
Show more common finance analyst majors
Best colleges for finance analysts
The top colleges for finance analysts, such as the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University, matter because they offer rigorous programs that equip students for success in the field. These institutions boast high admissions and retention rates, as well as impressive earnings for graduates. Additionally, they strive to minimize costs and debt for students pursuing finance analyst careers.
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. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
10. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,391
Enrollment
8,568
20 best online courses for finance analysts
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Master Adjusting Entries & Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide for Accurate Accounting and Reporting...
4. Cost Accounting and Financial Management - A Complete Study
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(268)
Learn theory and practical concepts in Cost Accounting and Financial Management with loads of video lectures...
5. Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Stmt, Cash Flow
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(574)
How To Quickly Read & Understand The Big 3 Financial Statements: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement...
6. 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...
7. 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!...
8. Principles of Financial Accounting
4.5
(875)
Learn the complete accounting cycle -recording business transactions to presenting the Balance Sheet & Income Statement...
9. Financial Statement Analysis
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Learn how to make understanding financial statements your superpower!...
10. Financial Analysis for Management Consultants & Analysts
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A practical guide with case studies and examples of financial analyses done during consulting projects...
11. Financial Modeling for Business Analysts and Consultants
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17. Accounting basics, create financial statements easily
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Discover, develop, practice your financial information and explore the world of accounting...
18. Learn to be a Financial Analyst
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Master the skills you need to get a job as a financial analyst: forecasting, budgets, variance analysis and more...
19. Finance Training for Financial Analysts
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20. The Complete Financial Analyst Training & Investing Course
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Top 10 most affordable universities for finance analysts
The most affordable schools for finance analysts are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for finance analysts 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 analysts.
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. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
6. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,094
Cost of Attendance
14,302
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Cost of Attendance
17,645
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. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for finance analysts
The hardest universities for finance analysts to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for finance analysts 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 analysts 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. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
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. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
7. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions Rate
15%
SAT Average
1,506
9. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
28%
SAT Average
1,429
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for finance analysts
The easiest schools for finance analysts to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and university of houston - downtown.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a finance analyst 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 analysts.
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. University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
1,012
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
5. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
6. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
7. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,139
8. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,060
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
85%
SAT Average
1,053
10. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
72%
SAT Average
1,017
Average finance analyst salary by education level
| Finance Analyst education level | Finance Analyst salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $79,103 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $69,281 |
| Doctorate Degree | $91,596 |
Finance Analyst Education FAQs
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Updated April 5, 2024
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.
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Updated April 5, 2024
