Study Finance in Pennsylvania

If you’re just starting your college education and want to major in finance, you can complete your undergraduate degree entirely online. With multiple online bachelor’s programs available in finance from Pennsylvania colleges and universities, you have your pick of which program is the best fit, too.

And if you’re looking for a graduate program in this field, you’re in luck, too! Some of the top institutions in the state offer online master’s degrees in finance and related fields that will help you advance your career or transition into a new finance-focused job.

Below is a list of some of the popular choices to consider for getting an online finance degree in Pennsylvania.

Best Accredited Online Finance Degrees in Pennsylvania - Finance Bachelor's, Master's and MBA Programs in PA

Online Finance Degrees in Pennsylvania

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online finance degrees in Pennsylvania:

  • Penn State University
  • Franklin University
  • Duquesne University
  • National University
  • University of Scranton
  • Walden University
  • La Salle University
  • UMass Global
  • Southern New Hampshire University

Penn State University

Online Bachelor of Science in Finance

The Bachelor of Science in Finance from Penn State University offers you the flexibility of online learning and multiple start dates throughout the year. In fact, depending on when you apply and are accepted, you might be able to start classes within a few days or weeks.

This program, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), prepares you for advanced credentials beyond your college diploma. For example, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills to sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam, or both.

Throughout the 120-credit program, you’ll learn valuable skills that make you a highly qualified finance professional. For example, you’ll take part in training on legal and ethical issues you might encounter in this field. You’ll also learn how to evaluate, analyze, and solve common (and not-so-common) financial problems. Furthermore, you’ll acquire essential communication skills that allow you to work well with other professionals and communicate vital financial information to non-professionals, too.

The first step to earning this degree is to complete general education requirements in core areas like the natural sciences, social sciences, math, and English. Roughly half of the 120 credits needed to graduate will be in general education fields.

Next, you must complete what Penn State calls “entrance-to-major” requirements. This includes five finance-related courses, all of which you must pass with a C or better:

  • Accounting 211
  • Econ 102
  • English 15 or English 30
  • Math 110 or Math 140
  • Statistics 200 or equivalent

Once you have successfully completed these prerequisites, you can move on to the prescribed courses within the major. Prescribed courses comprise the bulk of your major studies (47 credits). Many of these courses are entry-level and cover a broad range of topics.

A good example of this is Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making. This 200-level course explores how to use financial data to assist in running a business and making financially-sound decisions. Another example is Introductory macroeconomic Analysis and Policy. This 100-level course explores money and income, income measurement, and aggregate economic models on a national level.

But the prescribed courses also include more specific and detailed upper-level studies. For example, Corporation Finance, which is a 300-level course, examines the concepts of risk and return, dividend policies, mergers, and analysis of operations, to name a few topics. Likewise, you’ll take the 400-level International Finance class, which focuses on topics of importance to small business owners and other entrepreneurs who seek to explore international business markets.

An additional 34-37 credits of coursework in finance, business, accounting, and related fields are required. You might, for example, take Intermediate Accounting I and II, Money and Banking, or Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis. Whatever courses you take, you have the freedom to determine how long this degree takes.

For example, if you take six courses every semester, you can finish this degree in as little as two years. If you can’t devote yourself to full-time studies, though, you might take two or three courses each semester and graduate in five or more years.

To apply, you must have a high school diploma or a GED and submit the following:

  • A copy of your high school diploma or GED.
  • Official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Proof of English proficiency if English is not your native language.

Franklin University

Online Bachelor of Science in Financial Management

Though Franklin University isn’t based in Pennsylvania, it offers a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management that’s available to you nationwide. This program, which is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), requires 124 credits to graduate and typically takes four years to complete (though, as noted above, you can complete this program faster by taking additional classes each semester).

Like many online programs, this one offers the flexibility of multiple start dates throughout the year. For example, the university accepts applications in June, August, September, October, December, February, and March. If accepted, you can begin this program within a few days or weeks.

Another noteworthy feature of this program is that you can transfer up to 76 percent of the required credits to graduate. This makes this program highly attractive if you’ve completed a significant number of credits but never finished your degree.

The curriculum is divided into numerous categories. The general education requirements, as described earlier, comprise around half of the 124 credits needed to graduate. Another 28 credits are required in the Major Foundational category. These classes lay the groundwork for higher-level studies in business and finance.

For example, you’ll take Managerial Accounting, which explores how to use financial data in the decision-making processes required for managing a business. You’ll also take Business Law to gain an understanding of typical legal issues that might arise in the day-to-day operation of a business. Other foundational courses include the following:

  • Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • Marketing
  • Principles of Management
  • Principles of Finance
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics

Major-area coursework focuses on five classes, each of which is worth four credits. These classes explore specific topics within finance. For example, the Investments course takes a look at markets, transactions, debt and equity instruments, and mutual funds, to name a few. Meanwhile, the Global Finance class takes a look at global financial issues, such as interest rates, exchange rates, and country risk analysis. Other major-area courses include the following:

  • Money, Banking, and Financial Markets
  • Advanced Financial Management
  • Financial Policy Seminar

Franklin University also requires that you take at least eight credits of elective courses within the major. These classes run the gamut from Estate Planning to Database Fundamentals to Casualty Insurance. The broad selection of electives allows you to customize your degree to match your future career goals.

You can tailor your degree even more by adding a minor or microcredential. Franklin offers a host of minors ranging from Business Analytics to Healthcare Management to Public Relations. No matter which minor you choose, you must complete all required courses with a C or higher.

As for microcredentials, these programs often result in specific certifications. For example, you might pursue an Excel Skills Certificate to enhance your ability to use spreadsheets for data organization, analysis, and presentation. Alternatively, you might choose the Intuit Bookkeeping Certificate to hone your basic accounting skills.

You can apply to Franklin University online at any time. You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission:

  • Submit an official high school diploma, GED certificate, or college diploma.
  • Provide transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Demonstrate English language proficiency if English is not your native language.
  • Complete all other requirements (e.g., college placement tests) as required.

Penn State University

Online Master of Finance

In addition to the bachelor’s degree described earlier, Penn State also offers a Master of Finance program that is 100 percent online. And, just like its undergraduate program, Penn State’s graduate degree in finance prepares you to sit for the CFA and CFP exams.

At just 33 credits, you can complete this degree in a year of full-time studies (fall, spring, and summer semesters). Since this is a graduate program, the coursework is advanced and highly specific. For example, you’ll take a course in Portfolio Management that explores financial analysis, investments, and other critical topics in portfolio investment.

Likewise, you’ll take a course in Mergers and Acquisitions, which helps you understand what makes mergers and acquisitions successful or not successful. Additionally, this class discusses the design, structure, and evaluation of mergers and acquisitions.

A course in Speculative Markets is also required. You’ll analyze derivative securities, discuss valuation and trading, and learn about hedging, forwards, futures, and OTC derivatives, too. A course in Fixed Income Securities is part of the curriculum as well. This class explores bonds, credit derivatives, and asset-backed securities, to name a few.

Other core coursework is as follows:

  • Financial Accounting Theory and Reporting Problems
  • Foundations in Finance
  • Quantitative Methods in Finance
  • Current Issues in Corporate Finance
  • Multinational Managerial Finance

This degree program includes a culminating experience in which you are required to apply what you’ve learned throughout the program to conduct research in security valuation. More specifically, you’ll analyze and valuate a firm’s equity securities. Moreover, you’ll employ value-creation strategies you’ve learned to improve the firm’s financial standing.

You’ll proceed through this curriculum as part of a cohort. This model offers numerous benefits to you, not the least of which is the opportunity to learn alongside the same classmates throughout the program. Not only is this beneficial from a professional and collegial standpoint, but you can also build personal relationships that last long after you graduate.

Furthermore, cohorts can help you find a job or transfer to a new job later in your career. The built-in network of professionals you build in a cohort can be a valuable resource as you explore new career options.

Of course, the wide-ranging skills you acquire in this program will also be helpful in your job search. As a graduate of this program, you’ll be able to:

  • Manage clients’ portfolios, identify problems, and develop solutions using financial analysis.
  • Use financial data to address current challenges and predict future financial trends.
  • Explore the ethical considerations inherent in financial work.
  • Manage the risk exposure of your clients.
  • Assist your clients in diversifying their portfolios to enhance their return on investment.

You can apply to Penn State’s graduate school online at any time. You must satisfy each of the following requirements to be eligible for admission:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  • Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit official GMAT or GRE scores from the last five years.
  • Provide a current resume.
  • Provide a one-page statement of purpose in which you discuss your short-term and long-term professional goals and how your studies at Penn State will help you achieve those goals. Your statement must also address what you expect to learn in the Master of Finance Program and what skills and abilities you’ll add to the program cohort.

Duquesne University

Online Master of Finance

Duquesne’s online Master of Finance will help you develop high-level expertise in financial analysis that prepares you for many different careers. Upon graduating, you can explore employment in capital markets, banking or investments, and financial management, to name but a few options.

You must complete 36 credits to earn this degree. Duquesne offers you the flexibility of earning up to six credits using previous coursework. Likewise, each class in the curriculum is offered asynchronously, so you don’t have to accommodate specific online class meeting times in your schedule. Instead, you can proceed through each class at your own pace.

The curriculum is divided into two components: core coursework and electives. The core coursework is just as it sounds – foundational classes that explore essential elements of finance.

For example, you’ll take a Finance Fundamentals course that explores financial management and the decision-making processes businesses undertake when deciding what investments to make and how to pay for them. Additionally, you’ll take a Corporate Finance class that covers topics such as short-term finance, long-term finance, and capital structure.

Yet another core course is a survey of Financial Markets and Institutions. This class explores the financial system as a whole and the role of markets and institutions in the movement of money. This includes studies of interest rates, security valuation, and monetary policies.

This program also requires you to complete a capstone project in finance. This opportunity is unique in that you’ll work as part of a team with a real company to conduct a financial analysis. Your project might focus on a merger or acquisition, structured finance, credit analysis, or a related field. The project requires you to utilize the knowledge and skills you’ve learned in the program and demonstrate your mastery of a broad range of finance topics.

The remaining 15 credits you’re required to earn are electives. Duquesne offers a varied selection of electives that give you wide latitude in customizing your degree. Available electives include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Equity Investments
  • Wealth Management
  • Alternative Investments
  • Sales in Financial Services
  • Multinational Corporate Finance

As a result of your work in this program, you’ll be prepared to pursue any number of careers in the financial sector. You might work as a financial analyst, a corporate controller, or as an investment banker. Other options include working in private wealth management, accounting, or corporate financial advising.

Perhaps best of all, you can complete this degree in as little as four semesters. With a short timetable for completion, you can get the education and training you need faster and start your career sooner.

The program has two admission windows – spring and fall. However, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so you can apply anytime year-round. It usually takes up to seven business days to receive an admissions decision from the university.

When applying, you must provide the following:

  • Official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional references.
  • An essay exploring your academic and professional background and your current career. You must also explain your motivation for wanting a graduate degree in finance and how it fits in with achieving your professional goals.
  • An essay in which you explain what “the business of difference making” means to you. You must also address how you contribute to this goal as a student in this program and as an alumni.
  • A resume or curriculum vitae.

You may submit GMAT or GRE scores if you wish, but this is not a requirement for admission.

National University

Online Bachelor of Science in Financial Management

The Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from National University offers you an opportunity to study the theoretical foundations of finance while also gaining practical training in financial decision-making processes. Part of this training includes data analysis, a rapidly growing field in finance, accounting, and other business-related areas.

This program requires you to complete 180 quarter units to graduate. The curriculum consists of several components, starting with general education requirements.

You must complete at least 69 quarter units of general education courses. These classes cover a broad range of liberal arts topics, including math, science, English, and social sciences, and are required for all students regardless of their major. While a certain number of units are required in each field, you have significant flexibility in choosing which classes fulfill these requirements.

For instance, you might take U.S. History Prior to 1877 and European History Since 1917 to fulfill the social sciences requirements. Alternatively, you could choose an Introduction to Criminal Justice class and Introduction to Anthropology. These are just a couple of examples; the combination of courses you can take to meet general requirements is virtually limitless.

The next phase includes introductory courses that prepare you for the finance major. These 200-level classes include Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics, exploring economic activities on broad and narrow levels, respectively.

Other preparatory courses include:

  • Financial Accounting Fundamentals
  • Managerial Accounting Fundamentals
  • Legal Aspects of Business I
  • Introduction to Quantitative Methods

The bulk of your studies consists of the major requirements—16 courses totaling 72 quarter units. These are divided into business and finance categories.

The business portion includes five upper-division classes such as Business Finance, Intermediate Accounting, and Marketing Fundamentals. You must also take a course in Principles of Management and Organizations, covering management roles, theories, and human resource management.

The finance portion requires eleven courses. These focus on various aspects of financial management. For example, you’ll study the role of financial institutions like the Federal Reserve in the economy, examining the commercial banking system, investment companies, and pension funds.

Another important course is Working Capital Management, which analyzes how assets and liabilities are managed at the corporate level, including credit policies, cash management, and secured inventory financing. Additional required finance courses include:

  • Risk Management and Insurance
  • International Financial Management
  • Finance and Banking
  • Capital Structure and Financing
  • Valuation of a Corporation

You must also complete a financial capstone project where you explore a finance topic of your choice. You’ll be evaluated on your ability to integrate what you’ve learned in previous courses to address case studies and conduct finance-related research.

Each course in this program lasts four weeks, allowing you to take one or two classes at a time instead of the traditional four or five. With year-round enrollment, you can begin your studies at almost any time that suits you.

To apply as a first-year student, you must have a high school diploma. Depending on your previous academic experiences, you may need to take tests in English, math, or both.

What Degree is Closest to Finance?

The degree closest to finance is typically a Bachelor of Science in Finance (BSF) or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in finance. These programs focus on financial management, investment analysis, corporate finance, and financial markets. They provide a strong foundation in economic principles, accounting, and financial analysis, preparing graduates for careers in banking, investment management, financial planning, and corporate finance.

Other related degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Economics, which emphasizes economic theory and its applications, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, which focuses on financial reporting and auditing but also includes significant finance-related coursework.

Is Finance Considered a Hard Major?

Finance is often considered a challenging major due to its rigorous coursework and the analytical skills required. Students in finance programs must master complex topics such as financial analysis, investment strategies, corporate finance, risk management, and economic principles. The major demands a strong aptitude for mathematics, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Additionally, finance students often need to understand and interpret financial statements, perform quantitative analysis, and stay updated with market trends and regulations. While it can be demanding, many find it rewarding due to the valuable skills and knowledge gained, leading to diverse career opportunities in finance and related fields.

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