Online Finance Bachelor's Degree

An online finance bachelor’s degree is a business-focused undergraduate degree that builds skills in financial analysis, corporate finance, and investment fundamentals. Most programs cover foundational business coursework alongside a finance major core, then let you tailor electives or a concentration based on your goals.

BA stands for Bachelor of Arts and BS stands for Bachelor of Science. Some schools award a BA in finance, while others award a BS, so compare curriculum and quantitative requirements across schools.

Quick answers

What is an online finance bachelor’s degree?

An online finance bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate business degree that builds skills in financial analysis, corporate finance, and investments through online coursework.

Is a BA different from a BS in finance?

BA stands for Bachelor of Arts and BS stands for Bachelor of Science. Some schools award a BA in finance, while others award a BS, so compare curriculum and quantitative course requirements.

How are online finance bachelor’s programs typically structured?

Most programs include general education, a business foundation core, a finance major core, electives or a concentration, and often a capstone project.

What classes are common in a finance bachelor’s?

Coursework commonly includes financial accounting, corporate finance, investments, financial markets, and business statistics, plus electives for specialization.

What admissions requirements are common?

Requirements vary by school, but commonly include a high school diploma or equivalent and official transcripts. Some programs request minimum GPA or math prerequisites.

Can transfer credits reduce required coursework?

Transfer credits can reduce how many courses you need, but policies vary by institution and by which requirements the credits satisfy.

At a Glance

  • Degree type: Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance
  • Typical duration: 4 years full-time
  • Credits: Approximately 120 semester hours
  • Format: Online, with asynchronous and synchronous options at many schools
  • Accreditation: Check for AACSB or ACBSP business-school accreditation

For a full map of this program area, start here: Finance Program Guide


Schools to compare

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL BOC Score 93.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $71,588
Avg net price $6,541/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 97%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL BOC Score 93.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $91,885
Avg net price $14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 99%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN BOC Score 91.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $91,565
Avg net price $15,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT BOC Score 77.1
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 85%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $75,790
Avg net price $15,564/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Hillsdale College

Hillsdale, MI BOC Score 76.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 86%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont, CA BOC Score 71.9
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 92%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $104,736
Avg net price $28,849/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 97%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Wofford College

Spartanburg, SC BOC Score 71.6
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 81%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $68,964
Avg net price $18,732/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 90%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Portland

Portland, OR BOC Score 65.3
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 80%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $82,804
Avg net price $28,210/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard


How online finance bachelor’s programs are structured

Core degree components

Most online finance bachelor’s programs follow a similar structure:

  • General education courses, such as communication, math, and social science
  • A business foundation core covering management, marketing, and business law basics
  • A finance major core covering corporate finance, investments, and financial markets
  • Electives or a concentration that let you specialize, such as investment management or financial planning
  • A capstone project or case-study course in the final term, depending on the school

How online courses commonly work

Online formats may be asynchronous, but many still include weekly deadlines and participation requirements. To compare how online formats differ, see How Online Finance Degrees Work.

If you are trying to move faster, compare this degree level to a compressed timeline: Accelerated Finance Programs

Typical curriculum in a finance bachelor’s

Course TopicWhat You Learn
Financial AccountingReading and interpreting financial statements
Corporate FinanceCapital budgeting, capital structure, and business valuation
InvestmentsAsset classes, portfolio theory, and risk-return tradeoffs
Financial Markets & InstitutionsHow banks, exchanges, and regulators shape financial systems
Business StatisticsQuantitative methods used to analyze financial data
Business EthicsEthical decision-making in financial and corporate settings

Skills you may build

Program outcomes vary, but many curricula emphasize:

  • Financial statement analysis and interpretation
  • Valuation and capital budgeting techniques
  • Risk assessment and portfolio concepts
  • Quantitative and spreadsheet-based analysis
  • Professional communication for presenting financial recommendations

Admissions requirements

Admissions requirements vary by school and student type. Some programs admit first-time college students; others focus primarily on transfer students.

Common requirements include:

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Official transcripts
  • Minimum GPA or math course prerequisites, at some schools
  • Transfer credit evaluation for applicants with prior college coursework

Transfer credits and degree planning

Transfer credits can reduce how many courses you need, but rules vary by institution.

Before you enroll, confirm:

  • The maximum number of transfer credits allowed
  • The minimum grade required for a course to transfer
  • Whether credits apply to the finance major core or only to general electives
  • Residency requirements, meaning a minimum number of credits that must be completed at the institution

See Affordable Online Finance Degrees for more on managing total program cost.

Accreditation and program quality checks

Accreditation is a baseline quality indicator. Verify that the institution holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor – such as HLC, SACSCOC, ACCSC, or ABHES – then compare how the program is structured, supported, and delivered online.

Many business schools pursue AACSB or ACBSP programmatic accreditation for their business and finance programs, in addition to the institution’s institutional accreditation. Verify both when comparing schools.

Bachelor’s vs a master’s in finance

A bachelor’s in finance is generally the entry credential for analyst and associate-track roles in corporate finance, banking, and investment settings. A master’s in finance or an MBA with a finance concentration is typically pursued for advancement into management, specialized advisory work, or roles that value deeper quantitative training.

If you are comparing degree levels, these pages can help:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.