Study Finance in Massachusetts
Massachusetts might not be the biggest state in the Union, but it has one of the most comprehensive online education systems in the nation. You can earn your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, or certificate in finance from any number of the state’s public institutions.
Massachusetts’ private schools also offer many online finance degree options, including Boston University, one of the top schools in the nation. Needless to say, you have ample choices for completing your education.
The list below outlines some of the popular options for getting your finance degree. Read on to learn about each one and begin your college search!
Online Finance Degrees in Massachusetts
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online finance degrees in Massachusetts:
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Massachusetts – Lowell
- Boston University
- Arizona State University Online
- Fitchburg State University
- Merrimack College
- Walden University
- Southern New Hampshire University
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Online Bachelor of Science in Finance
The online Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is available as a standalone program for first-year students and as a degree completion program for transfer students. Either way, you’ll get your education from a business school that’s accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This accreditation is the gold standard in the finance industry and is held by a very small percentage of business schools around the world.
As a first-year college student, you’ll need to complete some prerequisite courses before beginning your studies in finance. For example, you’ll take a course entitled The Business Organization, in which you get a broad overview of working in business-related fields and its subsystems. You’ll get an introduction to accounting, marketing, finance, operations, technology, and more.
Your first year in the program also includes studies in Critical Writing and Reading as well as Finite Mathematics. The general skills you learn in these courses are valuable for making you a better student. You can also use these skills throughout your personal and professional life.
The program’s second year includes many more foundational business-related courses. On the one hand, you’ll take Principles of Accounting I and II, Principles of Microeconomics, and Principles of Macroeconomics. You’ll combine these classes with additional studies in the following areas:
- Business Communications
- Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration
- Legal Framework of Business
- Business Statistics
Your third year of studies sees upper-division coursework in finance and related fields. The required Business Finance course explores financial management, financial tools, capital budgeting, and equity financing, to name a few topics. Meanwhile, the Investment Analysis class examines the methods and techniques used to determine the merit of various types of securities, like bonds and stocks.
Other junior-year studies are in related business fields. For example, you’ll take an Operations Management class, a Principles of Marketing course, and you’ll complete coursework in Introduction to Business Analytics. You’ll also take Information Systems, which explores how to use information systems in business organization settings.
The program’s final year offers studies in highly specific finance applications. As an example, you’ll take an Advanced Investment Analysis class that examines the management of retirement assets, derivatives, and risk management, among others. You’ll also take an International Financial Management class to learn how economic and financial factors affect the value of currencies in markets around the world.
In all, you must complete 120 credits to earn this degree. This usually takes four years, though with transfer credits, your timeline to graduate could be much shorter.
As a result of your studies, you’ll gain essential finance skills that allow you to pursue employment as a financial analyst, financial planner, or portfolio and mutual fund manager. You might also seek careers in budget analysis, financial management, or the mortgage industry.
The application procedure is as follows:
- Complete the online application and submit a $30 application fee.
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Submit your high school transcripts or GED scores.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit official ACT or SAT scores.
- Provide a 500-word personal statement in which you discuss your leadership qualities, work experience, community service experiences, and other interests.
University of Massachusetts Global
Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
UMass Global offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance that focuses on teaching you the fundamentals of becoming a finance professional. The curriculum explores many different topics, from international finance to financial management to investments, while also exposing you to hands-on learning opportunities that help you apply what you learn in the classroom.
This 120-credit program includes studies in three broad categories: general education, core requirements, and the finance emphasis. The general education classes cover essential liberal arts topics, such as quantitative reasoning, written communications, humanities, and art. You’re also required to take courses in social sciences, natural sciences, and information fluency, to name a few. In all, you must complete 42 credits to complete this component of the curriculum.
The program’s core requirements include lower-division and upper-division courses in business and related fields. For example, the lower-division requirements include the following:
- Principles of Accounting I and II
- Introduction to Computers and Data Processing
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Introduction to Statistics
As you can see, the purpose of these classes is to help you develop skills that are essential to all facets of business. You’ll gain an understanding of accounting procedures, how to use data to make informed decisions, and the factors influencing economic growth on small and large scales.
The upper-division component of the core requirements take a more focused look at business-related subjects. For example, you’ll take a Principles of Management class that helps you develop into a strong leader and a Principles of Marketing class that teaches you core principles of marketing products and services to consumers. You’ll also take classes in Business Finance, Organizational Communication, and Strategic Management.
The final part of the curriculum is the finance emphasis. You must complete six finance classes that explore highly specific topics in finance or applications of finance principles. For example, you’ll take a Financial Institutions course that examines major financial organizations, including the Federal Reserve, the stock market, and regulatory commissions. You’ll also take a course in Income Taxation to better understand how state and federal governments tax income.
Other coursework in the finance emphasis includes the following:
- Intermediate Financial Management
- Investments
- International Finance
- Financing the Small Business
The work you do throughout this program offers real-world value. The curriculum is aligned with industry standards and your learning is immediately applicable in a finance setting. Likewise, you’ll learn from professors who are currently employed in the finance industry or have previous experience doing so.
UMass Global also offers the advantage of earning credit for what you already know. Depending on your past academic and work history, you might be able to earn credit for professional certifications, military experience, or corporate training.
The requirements for applying depend on your past educational experience. For example, with 11 or fewer college credits, you need to submit your high school diploma (or equivalency) and official high school transcripts that indicate your graduation date.
However, if you have 12 or more transferable credits, you must also submit official transcripts from every college or university you attended. You must also have a 2.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
University of Massachusetts – Lowell
Online Master of Science in Finance
The Master of Science in Finance from UMass Lowell is a 10-course, 30-credit program accredited by AACSB. The program focuses on how financial markets work and gives you enhanced skills pertaining to financial management and corporate finance. You’ll also study finance-related topics like asset allocation, qualitative financial models, financial theories, and derivatives, among others.
The curriculum includes 15 credits of required core courses and 15 credits of electives. The core coursework begins with Corporate Finance, a class that examines capital investment analysis, capital structure decisions, and long-term financing. You’ll then take a class in Securities and Portfolio Management to gain a better understanding of equity markets, types of securities and how they’re traded, and fund investing.
You’re required to take Empirical Methods in Finance, too. This class teaches you how to use financial data and empirical methods to understand a company’s historical financial performance while also forecasting future growth. A class in Financial Derivatives supplements your studies with coursework in the valuation and practical application of derivatives. You’ll study hedging, speculation, forward contracts, and swaps, among others.
The final core finance course is International Finance Management. You’ll study the international business environment and the unique characteristics of foreign monetary systems. Other concepts of study include currency flows, forward cover, and international banking policies.
The elective component of the curriculum must include at least three finance classes. The remaining two electives can either be in finance or a non-finance business field. UMass Lowell offers a host of finance classes that qualify as electives for this degree. You can study Advanced Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis, or Advanced Portfolio Management. You might also study Fixed Income Securities, Programming for Finance or Cryptocurrency. Other available options include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Decentralized Finance
- Financial risk Management
- Current Topics in Finance
- Security Analysis – Student Managed Fund
- CFA Exam Review
Available non-finance business-related electives run the gamut from Database Management to Analytical Decision-Making Tools to Taxation of Business Entities. You can also choose to take International Business, Business Intelligence and Data Mining, or Accounting Information for Management Decisions.
Most students complete this program in just 18 months. Upon graduating, you’ll have the skills necessary to work in areas like financial consulting, portfolio management, and risk management. Other options might include banking, valuation analysis, or fund management.
The school accepts applications year-round. When applying, be sure to submit the following:
- An application for admission and a $75 application fee.
- Official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended
- A current resume
- A statement of purpose in which you explain your professional goals and how this program will help you achieve them.
- Two letters of recommendation from references who can speak to your academic and professional abilities.
You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to apply. Furthermore, you must have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher. Your undergraduate studies must include coursework in Financial Accounting, Microeconomics, and Business Financial Analysis.
Boston University
Online Master of Science in Financial Management
Boston University’s online Master of Science in Financial Management is a 40-credit program that can be completed in as little as 18-24 months. The program’s curriculum aligns with the educational requirements for the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) exam in Massachusetts, which you can sit for upon completing this program.
This program focuses specifically on global quantitative finance. You’ll explore international finance and investment analysis issues, become adept at forecasting techniques, and gain valuable skills that make you a marketable leader for many different career pursuits. In fact, with this degree, you might qualify for careers in investment, financial management, multinational finance, or corporate finance, to name a few.
Boston U’s financial management program is accredited by AACSB. As such, you’ll explore a wide range of finance topics during your time in this program. The degree’s core courses include studies in the following areas:
- Financial and Managerial Accounting
- Financial Regulation and Ethics
- Quantitative Methods for Finance
- Corporate Finance
The financial management specialization coursework builds on the knowledge and abilities you gain in your core coursework and helps you become familiar with topics like mergers, acquisitions, and financial markets. You’ll also take a class in Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, in which you study different kinds of financial decisions made by financial managers. What’s more, you’ll learn how to use analytical tools to evaluate portfolio construction and gain the ability to solve essential finance-related problems.
The sequence of specialization courses must include one of the following classes as well:
- Case Studies in Current Corporate Financial Topics
- Derivative Securities and Markets
- Fixed Income Analysis
- Multinational Finance and Trade
You must take two elective courses to complete this degree. You can tailor your studies to fit your specific career plans or personal interests. For example, if you’re interested in decentralized finance, you might take a Blockchain Finance class. Alternatively, if you’re passionate about the use of technology in the finance industry, you might take Foundations of Machine Learning.
Boston University offers a host of other classes that count toward the elective requirement for this degree. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Project Risk and Cost Management
- Quantitative and Qualitative Decision-Making
- White-Collar Grime
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Financial Analytics
Another option you might consider is pursuing a concentration in International Finance or Investment Analysis. Both options include the same core degree courses but diverge with different concentration and elective requirements. Despite these differences, you still earn a Master of Science in Financial Management after completing 40 credits of coursework.
You can apply to Boston University here if one of these programs sounds like a good fit for your needs. You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university to apply. You must also submit the following documentation to support your case for admission:
- Official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- A current resume or curriculum vitae.
- One letter of recommendation.
- Proof of English language proficiency if English is not your native language.
Boston University waives the application fee for online programs. Moreover, the requirement to submit GRE or GMAT scores is also waived.
Arizona State University Online
Online Bachelor of Arts in Business and Financial Planning
You can pursue the online Bachelor of Arts in Business and Financial Planning from Arizona State University, a 120-credit, four-year program requiring the completion of 40 courses. Each class follows an accelerated 7.5-week schedule, allowing you to focus more on individual courses without managing a full course load simultaneously.
Although this program is specifically centered on financial planning, it offers the opportunity to explore various career paths. You might seek employment as a credit counselor or a financial manager. Graduates from this program have also become loan officers and insurance agents. The possibilities are vast!
The degree is provided by ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business, accredited by AACSB. You’ll learn from distinguished faculty members, including Nobel laureates, who bring real-world business and finance experience.
In the first two years of this program, you’ll complete general education classes and lower-division major-area courses. General education classes cover liberal arts fields like English composition, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. Additionally, you’ll take courses in natural sciences, communications, and art.
Lower-division business coursework includes classes like Macroeconomic Principles, Microeconomic Principles, and Uses of Accounting Information. In the upper-division, you’ll take classes such as Fundamentals of Finance, Business Writing, and Personal Financial Management.
The final two years of your studies will primarily focus on upper-division business and finance courses. For instance, you’ll take a Marketing and Business Performance class that looks at the role of marketing within business, organizations, and society. An Estate Planning Strategies class will cover personal estate planning and methods for maximizing an individual’s wealth.
You’ll also take a class in Personal Portfolio Management, where you’ll learn how to manage a portfolio through the investment process. This includes valuing stocks and bonds, managing risk, and considering tax and inflation impacts.
Other required upper-division major-area courses include:
- Personal Finance Cases and Modeling
- Senior Career Transition Management
- Personal Tax Management and Planning
- Principles of Management and Leadership
- Business Law and Ethics for Managers
The program also includes a capstone project where you’ll take on the role of a general manager or business owner, exploring ways to create more value for your company.
To apply to ASU as a first-year student, the undergraduate application takes just 30 minutes to complete. You must meet these requirements:
- Complete a high school curriculum or its equivalent with the following sequence of classes:
- Four years of math
- Four years of English
- Three years of lab sciences
- Two years of social sciences
- Two years of the same second language
- One year of fine arts or career and technical education
- Be in the top 25 percent of your high school graduating class or have a 3.0 GPA or higher in all competency courses, or score 22 or higher on the ACT (non-residents must score 24 or higher) or 1120 or higher on the SAT (non-residents must score 1180 or higher).
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended (you must have 12 or fewer college credits to apply as a first-year student).
Is Finance Still a Good Degree?
The value of a finance degree in today’s economic environment remains significant. Despite changes and advancements in the global market, a finance degree continues to offer numerous benefits and opportunities for graduates. Here are several reasons why finance remains a strong choice for higher education and career development:
Career Opportunities and Job Market Demand
The finance industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, and the demand for skilled finance professionals remains robust. Graduates with a finance degree have access to a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors, including:
- Investment Banking: Professionals in this field help corporations, governments, and other entities raise capital and provide advisory services on mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
- Financial Analysis: Financial analysts assess investment opportunities and provide guidance on financial decisions for businesses and individuals.
- Corporate Finance: This area involves managing a company’s financial activities, including capital structuring, budgeting, and financial planning.
- Financial Planning and Advisory: Financial planners and advisors help individuals and organizations manage their finances, plan for the future, and make informed investment decisions.
- Risk Management: Risk managers identify, analyze, and mitigate financial risks to protect an organization’s assets and earnings.
High Earning Potential
Finance careers are often associated with high earning potential. Roles such as investment bankers, financial analysts, portfolio managers, and corporate finance executives typically offer competitive salaries and bonuses. The potential for lucrative compensation packages makes finance an attractive field for ambitious individuals.
Versatility and Transferable Skills
A finance degree provides graduates with a versatile skill set that is applicable across various industries. Key skills developed through a finance program include:
- Analytical and Quantitative Skills: The ability to analyze financial data, interpret market trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Problem-Solving Abilities: Proficiency in identifying financial issues and developing strategic solutions.
- Communication Skills: Effectiveness in presenting financial information and recommendations to stakeholders.
- Understanding of Financial Markets: In-depth knowledge of how financial markets operate and how economic factors influence market dynamics.
These skills are highly transferable and can be leveraged in numerous roles beyond traditional finance positions, such as consulting, entrepreneurship, and general management.
Adaptability to Technological Advancements
The finance industry is evolving rapidly with advancements in technology. Areas such as fintech, blockchain, and data analytics are transforming financial services and creating new opportunities. A finance degree equips graduates with a foundational understanding of finance principles, enabling them to adapt and thrive in a technology-driven landscape.
Continuous Learning and Professional Development
The finance sector encourages continuous learning and professional development. Many finance professionals pursue additional certifications, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or Financial Risk Manager (FRM), to enhance their expertise and career prospects. These certifications are highly regarded and can lead to advanced career opportunities.