Finance

A Bachelor's degree in Finance is typically the minimum requirement for many roles dealing with corporate finance, global financial markets, financial planning, risk management, managing mutual funds, venture capital, and more.

With Rasmussen's online finance degree, you'll learn critical thinking skills related to your field that employers look for. The degree program prepares students to become financial analysts, financial managers and budget analysts.

This is a bachelor-completer program. To be considered for admission, applicants must provide transcripts from an accredited institution of higher learning as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) that demonstrates one of the following: a. A conferred Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree or b. Completion of at least 60 quarter credits or 40 semester credits of college-level coursework with a grade of C or higher in each course.

Students with a conferred Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, or at least 60 eligible quarter credits, may be considered for this program as specified below:

• Students may be required to take additional lower-level prerequisite courses when equivalent courses have not been completed. Prerequisite courses a student may be required to complete include: ACG2209 Principles of Financial Accounting for Managers, CTS2511 Excel, and either FIN1000 Principles of Finance or FIN1202 Financial Markets and Institutions.
• In addition, the students will have their transcripts evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine whether any upper-level credits will also apply to their program. Eligible credits for transfer will be applied to their program at the appropriate level. Students who have fewer than 90 transferable lower-level quarter credits will be required to take additional lower-level coursework. The additional coursework will be determined by Rasmussen University based upon a predetermined elective pool appropriate for the program of enrollment.

Students can complete our Bachelor’s of Finance program in as few as 18 months.111 You will need 90 credit hours to graduate.

The CFA Program is an opportunity to become a globally recognized Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). This credential proves the owner’s proficiency of in demand skills in investment analysis.

The CFA Program is made up of three exams that test fundamental knowledge of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management and wealth and financial planning.

Once one has earned their credential, their grasp of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills will open doors for them to work in higher positions in financial planning, risk management, asset management and more.128

Not only can you pursue your MBA after the Finance Bachelor's program, but with Rasmussen's accelerated Master's pathway you can get a head start on the master's program by taking one MBA course during your Bachelor's program.

Earning your MBA after your Bachelor's program can help you gain an edge to help make yourself more marketable with skills related to advanced career paths. You'll gain a broad understanding of the digital economy, strategic business concepts and optimized leadership to become an even more well-rounded professional with extended opportunities for job growth.

Both a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Financial Planner are roles someone with a degree in finance could pursue. Each role comes with its own requirements and certifications as well as their own specific responsibilities and work environments.

A CFA typically focuses on working in public and corporate finance, helping companies and organizations with investment strategies, wealth management, capital budgeting and more.

A CFP typically seeks to work with individuals looking to manage their personal finances like saving for retirement, buying a house, starting funds for college and more.138

There are many types of finance you can explore with your Bachelor’s, the primary three fields being personal finance, public finance and corporate finance. The types of people and financial institutions you are interested in working with may determine in which area you search for employment.

Personal finance involves helping individuals manage their money and make sound financial decisions. You’d be advising others on topics such as investment management and money management while reviewing documents like budgets and financial statements to help them with their own financial planning and to meet their financial goals.

Public finance involves assisting a government entity’s central banking, revenue, expenses, security analysis and debt portfolio. You will use strategic management skills and economic analysis to advise these financial institutions in making financial decisions that support financial plans and avoid financial risk.

Corporate finance involves helping companies or organizations in the public sector, private sector and even the international finance sector optimize their financial performance. Likely working with other financial planners and professionals, you’ll appraise financial markets as well as the company’s investment management, financial statements, capital structure, capital management, capital budgeting and security analysis to help them meet financial goals. You could also work with financial intermediaries like banks or other finance management companies.

You can get an estimate of your transfer credits without an official transcript in one business day (on average). Talk to an admissions advisor today or explore our Transfer Policy page.

Transferable skills, or soft skills, are a set of essential abilities that transcend program or credential and position you for success as you develop and build your career. These skills support your career goals by helping you in key areas like decision making, teamwork, communication, information literacy and more.

Every program at Rasmussen is built around these transferable skills which is just one more thing that will help you open the door to more career opportunities.

Know that when you commit to Rasmussen University, we commit to your education. We work to support you every step of the way, even after graduation.

We offer support services such as:

• Award-winning library and learning services
• Tutoring
• Career services
• An admissions advisor (commonly known as an academic advisor) to help you at every step—from enrolling to finding financial aid
• Plus more!