Finance is the counterpart to accounting. Whereas accounting tracks past revenues, finance, in a nutshell, looks at future revenues. Financial skills are in demand in a wide range of career roles and industries. A sampling of potential careers and industries of employment includes: auditor, banking professional, CFO, finance manager, CPA, credit analyst, financial analyst, financial examiner, financial planner, fund manager, insurance agent, investment analyst, lending officer, loan underwriter, research analyst, wealth manager and many others.
A bachelor's degree in finance is a first step towards many of these careers. This is typically followed by a combination of a graduate degree (usually a master's in economics, with some cross-disciplinary concentration or specialization), and the passing of one or more professional certification exams.
This college ranking of the 10 most affordable online bachelor's degrees in economics uses in-state tuition cost as the filtering factor. Some useful abbreviations are listed below:
- CFA – Chartered Financial Analysts
- CFO – Chief Financial Officer
- CFP – Certified Financial Planner
- CMA – Certified Management Accountant
- CTP – Certified Treasury Professional
2018 Ranking
See our rankings methodology page.
1
University of Houston-Downtown
The University of Houston in Downtown Houston has a growing online portal, complete with both undergraduate and graduate degrees. This school confers the Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance that can lead to certification exams for CFA, CFP, or the CTP licensure. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
The school offers differential tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students. In-state students pay $251.10 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay $332.25 per credit hour. Financial aid at the federal and state level is available for students who qualify.
The B.B.A. in Finance requires a total of 120 credit hours and a cornerstone project before a student can graduate with this degree. A total of 60 credit hours come from the Business Core and the Financial Major Core. Sample courses include Finite Math with Applications, Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Legal Environment of Business.
2
University of Houston-Clear Lake
The University of Houston in Clear Lake offers a wide variety of online degrees for working students. It confers the Bachelor of Science in Finance, a great start for any student interested in becoming a CFA. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
This school doesn’t offer online tuition rates. Therefore, students pay the school’s traditional rates. In-state students pay $276.91 per credit hour and out-of-state students pay $775.92 per credit hour. Like other public institutions, UHCL offers financial aid for those who qualify.
The B.S. in Finance requires 120 credit hours before this degree can be earned. There are no on-campus residencies, internships, or capstone projects required for this program. Sample courses include Intermediate Financial Management, Principles of Marketing, Management Theory and Practice.
3
Dickinson State University
Dickinson State University, known as DSU to students, is one of the premier institutions for students interested in finance. This school confers the Bachelor of Science in Finance wholly online. This school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.
This school offers one tuition rate for all of its distance education students. This rate, which is $313 per credit hour, includes all of the mandatory fees that many other tuition rates leave out, allowing students to have a better picture of how much their degree will actually cost. The school also offers financial aid specifically for online students.
The B.S. in Finance at DSU requires 128 credit hours. There are no on-campus residency requirements for this school and students will not be expected to complete an internship. Sample courses include Financial Institutions and Markets, Introduction to International Finance, and Personal Finance.
4
Florida International University
Florida International University has a large offering of online degrees at FIU Online, the school’s virtual college. This is where the school confers the Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, among other degrees. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
FIU Online has online-specific tuition rates that are categorized based on residency status. Currently, in-state students pay $212.71 per credit hour while out-of-state students pay $329.77 per credit hour. Books and other fees may apply. Students are encouraged to research possible avenues for financial aid.
The B.B.A. in Finance requires a minimum of 120 credit hours in order to earn this degree. This is a fully online degree, meaning there is no requirement for students to be on-campus at any time. Sample courses include Accounting for Decisions, Calculus for Business, and Introduction to Microcomputer Applications for Business.
5
University of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is one of the most respected institutions for online learning. This school confers the Bachelor of Science in Finance, a strong program that will see students ready to sit for the CMA and CFP licensure exams. This school is regionally accredited by the MSCHE.
This university offers a few tuition rates for students. In-state students pay $284 per credit hour while out-of-state residents pay $499 per credit hour. Additionally, active duty and retired military members and their families pay $250 per credit hour as part of the school’s military tuition and benefits program. Financial aid is available for all those who seek it.
The B.S. in Finance at UMUC requires 120 credit hours. There are no residency requirements and students will not be responsible for any capstone projects or internships. Sample courses include Security Analysis and Valuation, Risk Management, and Management and Organization Theory.
6
Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University at Springfield has a formidable amount of online degrees available for working students. Among them is the Bachelor of Science in Finance, a completion program that offers students the ability to complete their degree in less than two years. This school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.
This school’s completion program effectively cuts a student’s tuition in half because students must come to the school with 60 credits from a regionally accredited institution. Current tuition costs for in-state students are $205 per credit while out-of-state students pay $440 per credit hour. Financial aid options are available, so students are encouraged to look at all of their options.
The B.S. in Finance at this school requires 61 credit hours at MSUS. Students will not be required to attend any classes on campus. Sample courses include Professional Financial Planning, Readings in Finances, and Introduction to Estate Planning.
7
University of Houston-Victoria
The University of Houston at Victoria is known for its online courses as well as for its affordability. This includes the Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, which the school confers mostly online. This school is regionally accredited by the SACS COC.
UHV, as the school is known to students, offers some of the lowest tuition rates available. In-state students pay $190.70 per credit hour and out-of-state students pay $598.70 per credit hour. There are additional fees not included in the tuition. Federal and state financial aid is available.
The B.B.A. in Finance requires a total of 120 credit hours and at least one campus residency for the school’s B.B.A. Case Competition. Sample courses include International Finance, Investments Principles, and Intermediate Financial Management.
8
Granite State College
Granite State College is part of the University System of New Hampshire and is one of the most affordable online programs in the state. This school confers the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, a program that is perfect for students who are interested in pursuing a CPA, CMA, or CFA license. It is regionally accredited by the NEASC.
Students all over the country will be amazed at the low cost of tuition at Granite State College. In-state students pay just $293 per credit hour while out-of-state students pay $325 per credit hour. All students are eligible to apply for financial aid, and the school is well known for helping students make their degrees even more affordable.
The B.S. in Accounting and Finance requires 120 total credit hours. This includes the General Education Core and the Accounting and Finance Core. Sample courses include Intermediate Accounting, Conducting Critical Inquiry, and Legal and Ethical Issues in Business Management.
9
Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University, known as MSU to students, is a fantastic university for working students interested in pursuing a financial degree. This school confers a Bachelor of Science in Finance. The university is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.
Students will find the school’s tuition rates quite reasonable, particularly for an online school. Minnesota residents pay just $218.78 per credit hour while out-of-state students pay $446.38 per credit. There are also a variety of scholarships and grants available, along with financial aid, for students who qualify.
The B.S. in Finance requires 120 total credit hours, all of which can be earned online. These credit hours encompass the Business Core and the Finance Core. Sample courses include Marketing Principles, Introduction to Operations management, and Money, Banking and Financial Institutions.
10
Columbia College
Columbia College is one of the best online schools to earn a degree in finance from, especially for working students who need flexibility as well as affordable tuition. This school confers the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in Finance. This university is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC.
CCIS has online tuition rates for students, ensuring that everyone can afford to study at the school. The current tuition rate is $290 per credit hour. Military members pay $250 per credit hour as part of the school’s military benefits program. There are also a variety of financial aid options available to students, and they are encouraged to speak with a financial aid advisor about what financial aid path is best suited for them.
The B.A.B.A. in Finance at CCIS requires a total of 120 credit hours, all of which can be completed online. There are no on-campus residency requirements for this degree. Sample courses include Principles of Management, Business Finance, and Business Information Systems.
It has 12 online bachelor’s degrees, plus concentrations, and offers a Bachelor’s Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Finance. The BBA is available as a BABA online and on-campus, and a BSBA on-campus only. It requires 120 credits, of which 51cr is for the Core, 18cr for the Major, 1-4cr for Electives. A Finance minor option may be available for some CC bachelor’s degrees as well.
Some finance courses offered include: Business Finance; Comprehensive Financial Planning; Corporate Finance; Financial Management; Financial Markets and Institutions; International Finance; Personal Financial Planning; Small Business Finance; Sports Finance.