Updated April 5, 2024
4 min read
The educational requirements for a stock broker are primarily a bachelor's degree. According to the data, 88.17% of stock brokers hold a bachelor's degree. Although some stock brokers have a high school diploma, associate, or doctorate degree, these are less common. Pursuing a degree in business, finance, economics, accounting, or marketing can be beneficial. Certifications such as Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program, Chartered Financial Analyst, and Certified Economic Developer can also be advantageous. Top schools for pursuing a stock broker education include the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, SUNY at Binghamton, and Villanova University.
What education do you need to become a stock broker?
What degree do you need to be a stock broker?
- Bachelor's, 77%
- Master's, 9%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a stock broker?
According to the education requirements, a bachelor's degree is the most popular choice for stock brokers, with 88.17% opting for this level of education. Common majors include business, finance, economics, and accounting.
- Business, 29%
- Finance, 20%
- Economics, 9%
- Accounting, 5%
- Other Majors, 37%
Most common colleges for stock brokers
| Stock Broker Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fordham University | 6.57% |
| University of Florida | 6.57% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.57% |
| Pace University | 5.84% |
| Baruch College of the City University of New York | 5.84% |
Show more common stock broker colleges
Best majors for stock brokers
According to the education requirements, a bachelor's degree is the most popular choice for stock brokers, with 88.17% opting for this level of education. Common majors include business, finance, economics, and accounting.
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 28.5% |
| 2 | Finance | 20.3% |
| 3 | Economics | 8.5% |
| 4 | Accounting | 5.5% |
| 5 | Marketing | 4.5% |
Show more common stock broker majors
Best colleges for stock brokers
To become a successful stock broker, a bachelor's degree is crucial. The University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and the University of Southern California are among the top schools for aspiring stock brokers. These universities offer robust programs that prepare students for the field, with high admissions and retention rates. Graduates often earn competitive salaries and have manageable debt.
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
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Top 10 most affordable universities for stock brokers
The most affordable schools for stock brokers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for stock brokers 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 stock brokers.
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. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
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. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
7. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
8. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
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 stock brokers
The hardest universities for stock brokers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for stock brokers 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 stock brokers 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. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,407
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
9. Bentley University
Waltham, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,338
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for stock brokers
The easiest schools for stock brokers 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 stock broker 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 stock brokers.
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. Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
72%
SAT Average
1,017
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,069
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,024
10. LIM College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
1,061
Average stock broker salary by education level
| Stock Broker education level | Stock Broker salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $72,123 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $59,030 |
| Doctorate Degree | $65,884 |
Stock Broker 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
