Finance Degrees Online
journey today.
The business and finance industry is facing a period of projected growth, both in terms of job openings and new technology. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 942,500 new jobs are estimated to open each year, on average, for business and financial occupations from 2024 to 2034.1 This surge highlights the need for finance professionals who can bring analytical expertise and strategic insight to the workforce.
Graduating with a finance degree can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities. Gaining insight into potential career paths can help guide your academic choices and prepare you for working in the financial sector.
Those who earn a finance degree may go on to explore careers such as:
Financial manager
Financial and investment analyst
Personal financial advisor
Financial risk specialist
Chief financial officer
General and operations manager
Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialist
Budget or credit analyst
Loan officer
Median annual wage for financial managers as of May 20242
Estimated growth for financial managers expected from 2024 to 20343
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions to help you plan for your finance degree.
A finance degree can equip you with essential skills in critical thinking, financial analysis and strategic decision-making. You can also develop strong time management and research abilities, which are tools that are valuable across a wide range of industries. Whether you're aiming to immediately enter the workforce or pursue graduate-level education, GCU’s finance programs lay a solid foundation for long-term career growth.
While finance and accounting share some foundational concepts, they have different practical focuses in the business field. Finance degrees focus more on managing investments, financial planning and market analysis. Accounting degrees cover areas like financial reporting, auditing and compliance. In general, finance is more strategic and big-picture oriented, while accounting is more detail-oriented and focused on accuracy in recordkeeping.
Finance degrees are applicable across a wide range of careers, from management to advising and analyst roles. Most entry-level roles in business and finance require at least a bachelor’s degree, so completing a finance degree online can be a great way to develop the analytical, computing and mathematical skills needed for the industry.4
A finance degree may be considered challenging due to its focus on math, financial concepts and economic theory. However, if you're curious about how financial systems work and enjoy analyzing and solving problems, it can be a rewarding program that builds valuable skills for a career in the finance industry.
