Study Finance in Ohio
With an undergraduate finance degree in hand, you can pursue many different careers in personal finance, corporate banking, and financial management, to name a few. Your career opportunities expand further with a master’s degree in this field – perhaps even to managerial or executive positions.
In Ohio, you can pursue either type of degree. Better still, both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in finance are available completely online. This enables you to get the education you need without leaving the comfort of your own home. There are many different choices for completing your degree, too; below are some of the popular examples of what an online education in this field can be like.
Online Finance Degrees in Ohio
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online finance degrees in Ohio:
- University of Toledo
- University of Cincinnati
- Ohio Christian University
- Ohio University
- Purdue University Global
- UMass Global
- Walden University
- Grand Canyon University
- Southern New Hampshire University
University of Toledo
Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Toledo is a traditional program in the sense that it requires you to complete 120 credits to graduate. However, since it is 100 percent online and uses asynchronous classes that don’t require you to “attend” class at specific times, this is every bit a modern, flexible degree program.
The University of Toledo understands that time is your most precious commodity. That’s why this program isn’t just online but is also offered in full-time and part-time formats. Take classes full-time if you’re a traditional college student, or study part-time if you have work or family obligations that limit how much time you have to devote to your coursework.
Whatever the case, you’ll complete a comprehensive curriculum that prepares you for a career in financial services, corporate finance, and much more. This program, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), starts with foundational coursework like Introduction to Business, Microcomputer Applications in Business, and Principles of Macroeconomics. These courses provide insights into broad concepts in this field and give you the solid foundation you need to explore advanced studies in finance later on.
Other lower-division courses you’re required to take examine finance and business topics such as:
- Career Development
- Information Technology Management
- Financial Accounting Information
- Business Statistics
- Principles of Macroeconomics
The courses listed above are typically taken during your first two years in the program. After that, you’ll move on to complete upper-division classes that dive into more specific finance topics.
For example, you’ll take a 3000-level class in Principles of Financial Management that examines how business managers add financial value to their organization. You’ll learn about stock and bond valuations, corporate structures, and financial analysis, to name but a few concepts.
You’ll also take a class in the Legal and Ethical Environment of Business that explores the underlying laws that govern business practices in the U.S. Likewise, you’ll discuss common ethical issues you might encounter in your career and analyze relevant laws and regulations that help law enforcement agencies ensure businesses are operating within the law.
Other upper-division courses you’re required to take include the following:
- Investments
- Managerial and Behavioral Processes in Organizations
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Intermediate Financial Management
- Advanced Financial Management
In addition to these required courses, you must take three elective classes. The program offers a diverse range of electives to choose from, including Risk Management, Financial Modeling With Excel, and International Business Finance. Other options include Fixed Income Securities, Security Analysis and Portfolio Management, and Derivatives Securities and Markets.
You can also choose to participate in a finance internship as an elective. The internship places you in a finance setting where you’ll learn the ins and outs of working in this industry while being mentored by an experienced finance professional. This type of learning experience can be invaluable for gaining additional knowledge and skills that will help you establish a career after graduation.
The undergraduate application for admission to the University of Toledo is available online. You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Have a 2.8 cumulative high school GPA or higher, or score 25 or above on the ACT or 1150 or above on the SAT.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
If you don’t meet the GPA requirements listed above, you might be granted admission to Toledo’s Associate of Arts pre-business degree, from which you can move into the BBA degree, provided your academic performance improves.
University of Cincinnati
Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
Another popular undergraduate option for studying finance in Ohio is the Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Cincinnati. Depending on your past college history, this program might be as short as 60 credits. For example, transferring into the program with an associate’s degree means you’d already have 60 or so credits to apply to the 120 credits needed to graduate. However, if you’re a first-year student, you’d need to complete the entire 120 credits to finish the program.
In either case, you’ll get your finance education in a flexible, online format that focuses on building specific skills necessary for pursuing careers in the finance industry. And since the program is AACSB accredited, the knowledge and skills you gain are aligned with industry standards, so you can hit the ground running after graduation and immediately start your career.
The curriculum is organized so that you can complete both finance-related coursework and general education coursework side-by-side. For example, as a first-year student, you would complete an array of introductory business and non-business coursework, such as Business communication, Introduction to Microeconomics, and Applied Calculus.
Likewise, you’ll take courses like Essentials of Business, Introduction to Macroeconomics, and Career Success Strategies. These and other introductory classes help you build essential business and finance-related skills while also gaining competency in crucial areas of finance, such as financial theories, analytical processes, supply and demand, and more.
From there, you’ll complete lower-core classes in business that explore broad topics yet are more focused than the introductory courses described above. A good example of this is Financial Accounting. This class explores areas like fixed assets, inventory, liabilities, and equity, to name a few. The required Managerial Accounting course discusses how accounting data can be used in controlling business operations, like costs, budgeting, and allocation.
Other lower-core courses you must complete include the following:
- Legal Environment of Business
- Business Analytics I and II
- Digital Technologies for Business
- Intermediate Composition
The upper-core required classes explore even more specific finance topics. A good example of this is Business Finance. In this course, you’ll learn about the basic principles of finance, including the time value of money and the interrelationship of risk and return. By completing this class, you’ll gain essential analytical skills that allow you to examine all sorts of financial decisions in many different business and personal settings.
As another example, you’ll take a Global Environment of Business course that examines the social, economic, legal, and financial differences between U.S.-based and internationally-based businesses. Moreover, you’ll discuss these complex business environments in the context of the financial challenges they face in the global economy.
The finance major courses are where you’ll drill down into hyper-specific topics. Courses like Financial Markets and Institutions further enhance your analytical skills, particularly pertaining to corporate finance decisions. You’ll learn how to apply analyses of the cost of capital to various business situations and make data-driven financing decisions, too.
This program also requires you to complete 12 credits of finance electives. You have the choice of numerous options here, including coursework in Fixed Income, Investments, and Portfolio Management. Financial Modeling and Derivatives are two other options worth considering. The program concludes with a capstone course in business strategy in which you integrate the knowledge and skills you’ve gained to analyze and assess a business’s internal financial operations.
The following admissions requirements must be met prior to applying:
- Submit official high school transcripts (if you have fewer than 24 college credits).
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a 2.5 GPA or higher for all college coursework.
- Complete the required calculus course sequence.
Ohio Christian University
Online Master of Business Administration in Finance
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field, and you want to expand your knowledge and skills further, a graduate degree, like the Master of Business Administration in Finance from Ohio Christian University, is worth a look.
This 36-credit program is available entirely online, giving you the ultimate flexibility for completing your degree. Not only is this program online, but the courses are also offered in a five-week format. This accelerated format means you can complete courses much faster yet do so without being overwhelmed by taking multiple classes at the same time.
The program requires participation in online forum discussions and weekly assignments to help you stay on track with your studies. These and other assignments require you to engage with your peers and professors, discuss important finance topics, ask and answer questions, and analyze financial data, to name a few. In the absence of class meetings, these and other activities help enrich your learning and prepare you for your future career.
The core coursework for this MBA explores the essentials of finance, business, accounting, and other business-related fields. For example, you’ll take an Economics for Managers course focusing on economic theories driving business policies. You’ll analyze macroeconomic and microeconomic principles, learn how to interpret economic indicators, and discuss political influence on economics as well.
Another interesting core course is Managerial Finance and Analysis. This class looks at common financial theories while also helping you gain mastery in using critical financial tools. In both cases, you’ll learn how to apply these theories and use these tools in management decision-making scenarios.
The core coursework also includes studies in management. For example, you’ll take an Advanced Strategic Management class that helps you understand modern operational management approaches. You’ll also learn about proven analytic techniques that will help you utilize financial information to make informed managerial decisions in an organization.
Other required core coursework explores topics such as:
- Quantitative and Analytic Methods
- Advanced Managerial Accounting
- Global Business Environment
- Applied Business Capstone
The courses discussed above represent 24 of the 36 credits needed to graduate. The remaining 12 credits are in the Finance MBA concentration. The four required classes in the concentration provide you with insights into critical finance topics, such as Corporate Finance, Financial Planning, and Investments.
The fourth class in this concentration is Financial Markets and Institutions. This course is fundamental to your understanding of the nation’s finance industry, including how markets and institutions behave and how their behavior impacts the larger economy.
By completing these and other courses, you’ll emerge from this program with a host of skills and abilities that can make you a highly sought-after employee. This includes competencies related to the following:
- Optimizing organizational financial success.
- Analyzing legal and ethical components of business.
- Developing strategies that allow organizations to maximize their profits
- Evaluating business operations using analytical problem-solving.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or ABHE-accredited institution).
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher (probationary admission might be granted if your GPA is 2.0-2.49).
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
Ohio University
Online Finance MBA
Ohio University’s online Finance MBA is an AACSB-accredited program focusing specifically on corporate finance and portfolio management. You’re required to complete 35 credits to graduate, which students typically do in around 1-2 years.
As a part-time online program, you can earn your MBA in finance in a flexible format. But learning online doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to gain valuable experience in finance. In fact, this program was designed to be driven by experiential learning, so you’ll develop essential business intelligence tools and leadership abilities that will make you an attractive candidate for jobs after graduation.
The curriculum is a varied examination of business and finance topics. The general MBA coursework begins with an Accounting for Executives course that explores accounting principles and how you can use them to maximize value creation in an organization. Likewise, you’ll take a Descriptive Analytics class that enables you to use analytics to summarize, visualize, and manage data while also effectively communicating financial information to stakeholders.
You must also complete a Managerial Finance class that integrates studies of accounting and economics. You’ll apply your understanding of these broad topics to analyze the financial functions of a business. Your studies will include concepts like risk and return, capital budgeting, and capital structure, among others.
Other required core MBA courses include the following:
- Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management
- Strategic Marketing
- Strategic Use of Information Systems
- Operations Management
- Strategy
An Applied Business Experience is also required. Think of this requirement as a capstone. You’ll use the knowledge and skills you’ve gained throughout the MBA to address a simulated business experience during which you’ll identify a specific problem to address. You’ll also analyze the organization’s financial health, provide solutions for improving operations, and devise an action plan for putting your solutions into practice.
From there, you’ll complete three courses as part of the finance concentration. First, you’ll examine the inner workings of financial organizations in a Financial Markets and Institutions course. Next, you’ll take an Investments class, which explores the essential principles used by investors to make financial decisions for their clients. You’ll discuss investment portfolios, risk and return, portfolio performance evaluation, and other essential investment topics, too.
The final finance course is Advanced Corporate Finance. As the class name indicates, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of corporate finance, specifically dividend policy, risk management, and capital structure. You’ll also spend time exploring long-term and short-term financing options.
Use the online application to Ohio University’s graduate school to get the process started. To qualify, you must meet the following admissions requirements:
- Complete the application linked above and pay a $50 application fee.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a current resume.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references.
- Submit a 2-4 page personal statement in which you explain your career goals and how this program will help you achieve those goals.
You must also have two or more years of professional work experience in business, finance, or a related field.
Purdue University Global
Online Bachelor of Science in Finance
Though Purdue is physically located in Indiana, you have the option to enroll in its Global Campus to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Finance entirely online. This allows you to earn a respected Purdue degree while staying in Illinois.
You need to complete 180 quarter credits to graduate, equivalent to 120 semester credits, as Purdue operates on the quarter system. Typically, you can finish this degree in four years with full-time study. However, by taking additional classes occasionally, you might shorten your graduation time by a semester or two.
You are required to complete 45 quarter credits of general education classes. These classes aim to provide foundational knowledge and skills across a broad spectrum of liberal arts fields. The primary focus of your studies will be within the finance major, requiring 96 credits, which includes both core and elective finance courses.
For instance, you must take introductory finance-related classes such as Accounting I and II, Macroeconomics, and Introduction to Management. Additionally, you must complete one course in each of the following business areas:
- Marketing
- Business Law
- Organizational Behavior
- Business Statistics and Quantitative Analysis
Finance-specific classes are also part of your curriculum. You’ll start with Introduction to Finance, covering topics like valuing money, financial planning, and financial analysis. Corporate Finance is another essential course, focusing on financial decisions within corporations.
Another required course is Financial Markets, where you’ll study securities and the various factors that affect their value. This course also includes learning about different financial markets where securities are traded. Additional finance courses include Financial Statement Analysis, Investments, and a Capstone Course.
The Capstone Course is a unique requirement that involves integrating all the knowledge you have gained throughout the program to solve practical financial problems. Completing the capstone successfully involves a thorough review of your learning and an assessment of your mastery of key finance topics.
Your remaining credits will be fulfilled through electives, allowing you to specialize in a finance concentration. Purdue Global offers four specializations: FinTech, General Finance, Real Estate, or Wealth Management and Financial Planning. Each specialization requires 18 credits. For example, if you choose the Real Estate option, you’ll take Foundations of Real Estate Practice, Real Estate Finance and Ethics, and Real Estate Law.
Alternatively, if you opt for the Wealth Management and Financial Planning specialization, you’ll take Financial Planning, Portfolio Management, and Asset Allocation and Risk Management.
You also have the option to pursue a combined bachelor’s-master’s degree through Purdue Global. This option enables you to complete both degrees more quickly and at a lower cost compared to finishing them separately.
To apply, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a high school diploma.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Demonstrate English language proficiency if English is not your native language.
How Much Do Finance Majors Make in Ohio?
The salary for finance majors in Ohio varies depending on the specific role, experience level, and location within the state. As of July 2024:
- General Salary Range: The average starting salary for finance graduates in Ohio is around $65,705.
- Finance Managers: Finance managers in Ohio earn an average salary of approximately $132,524 annually, which is higher than national averages.
- MBA Graduates: For those with an MBA, the average starting salary can be significantly higher, with the average being $129,409 and the median at $148,959.
What are the Career Opportunities For Finance Degree Holders in Ohio?
Pursuing a finance degree in Ohio opens up various career opportunities that can lead to a fulfilling professional life. With a solid foundation in finance, you can work in diverse sectors including banking, investment, corporate finance, and financial planning. Ohio, with its growing economy and vibrant financial sector, offers many avenues for you to apply your skills and knowledge.
In banking, you might start your career as a financial analyst or a loan officer, where you will assess financial statements, evaluate risk, and help individuals and businesses secure loans. Investment firms in Ohio offer roles such as portfolio managers, where you will manage investment portfolios for clients, or as financial advisors, guiding clients on investment decisions and strategies.
Corporate finance departments within Ohio’s numerous companies require finance professionals to manage budgets, conduct financial forecasting, and develop strategies to maximize profitability. These roles often include positions like financial managers or controllers, where you will oversee the financial health of the organization and ensure regulatory compliance.
Another promising career path is financial planning, where you can work as a personal financial advisor. In this role, you will assist individuals in managing their finances, planning for retirement, and achieving their financial goals. This sector often allows for building long-term relationships with clients and significantly impacting their financial well-being.
Public accounting firms in Ohio also provide opportunities for finance graduates. As an accountant or auditor, you will examine financial records, prepare tax returns, and ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial information. This experience can be particularly valuable if you aim to become a certified public accountant (CPA) in Ohio.
Lastly, government agencies and non-profit organizations in Ohio also seek finance professionals. In these roles, you will manage public funds, develop budgets, and ensure the effective use of resources to achieve organizational goals.