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Online Bachelor's in Financial Planning: 2026 Programs
A bachelor’s in financial planning is the standard undergraduate credential in this field. Common titles include BS in Financial Planning, BS in Financial Planning and Services, MS in Personal Financial Planning. Typical length is about 120 semester hours. In IPEDS 2024, 67 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 67 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024). Of those, 52 reported bachelor’s completions.
Calling yourself a Certified Financial Planner is illegal unless you hold CFP certification. The degree can satisfy the education requirement if the program is on the CFP Board’s registered list. Confirm that list against the specific catalog year, not a school’s marketing page.
Quick answers
Can I get this degree online?
Yes. In IPEDS 2024, 67 institutions reported bachelor’s-or-higher completions in the CIP codes used for this guide, and 67 of those institutions reported offering distance-education programs (IPEDS 2024).
What will I study?
Typical coursework includes investments, retirement planning, insurance and risk, income tax planning, estate planning, client communication, and a capstone plan.
What do graduates earn?
Personal Financial Advisors: The national median annual wage was $105,070, with the 10th percentile at $50,190 and the 90th at $357,020 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS). Employment was 326,000 in 2024, projected to grow 9.6 percent through 2034, with 24,100 openings per year (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Individual outcomes vary.
Do I need a bachelor’s, or will a certificate do?
Certificates cover a tool. The bachelor’s is what most employers treat as the degree. If the job posting lists a bachelor’s as required, a certificate will not substitute.
How is accreditation handled?
The CFP Board does not accredit degrees. It registers education programs that satisfy the coursework requirement for CFP certification. Institutional accreditation is still the first check. Passing the CFP exam, meeting experience hours, and agreeing to the Board’s ethics rules are separate from the diploma.
At a Glance
- Common degree titles: BS in Financial Planning, BS in Financial Planning and Services, MS in Personal Financial Planning
- IPEDS 2024 institutions (bachelor’s or higher): 67 (67 with a distance-education flag)
- Related fields: finance, accounting, risk management
Data verified: September 7, 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.
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