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The 64 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance

Rankings of Online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance ProgramsAn online bachelor’s degree in finance can push you into more advanced positions, a better salary, and give you a competitive advantage in a high-demand field. Today’s financial analysts, managers, advisors and examiners are still making top dollar in the business world! According to the BLS, finance occupations pull above average median salaries year to year. While a way with numbers and a talent for mathematics can help land a finance job, a degree leads to real opportunities in the marketplace. Even if you are already employed by the organization of your choice, earning college credentials can provide you with the knowledge, skills and tools to make you indispensable to a company’s success.

An online bachelor’s degree in finance can lead to a fulfilling career working in the markets but can cost more than a pretty penny. Payscale reports that graduates pull in a handsome average salary of $71,000 annually. Even so, it pays to do your research before choosing an online bachelor’s in finance to keep student loan debt low.

GetEducated compared 135 bachelor’s degrees in finance from 52 regionally accredited online schools to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our rankings reveal the most affordable options in the United States—64 online bachelor’s degrees in finance for under $56,000.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): ~$55,400
Least Expensive: Florida State College at Jacksonville ~$13,284.00
Most Expensive: Albertus Magnus College ~$141,768.00

Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online bachelor’s degree in finance. The online finance degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
Florida State College at Jacksonville
(FL)
$13,284.00
$26,738.40
In-State
Out-of-State
2
North Carolina A & T State University
(NC)
$15,700.00
$70,420.00
In-State
Out-of-State
3
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(NC)
$21,413.32
$39,101.32
In-State
Out-of-State
4
University of the Cumberlands
(KY)
$24,680.00
All Students
5
Fort Hays State University
(KS)
$27,225.60
All Students
6
Eastern New Mexico University
(NM)
$28,247.00
$36,407.00
In-State
Out-of-State
7
Florida International University
(FL)
$28,286.72
$42,333.92
In-State
Out-of-State
8
Thomas Edison State University
(NJ)
$28,930.00
$37,410.00
$30,298.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
9
Utah State University
(UT)
$30,344.00
$37,224.00
In-State
Out-of-State
10
Southern Utah University
(UT)
$31,693.00
All Students
11
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
(LA)
$34,062.00
All Students
12
Missouri State University
(MO)
$34,920.00
All Students
13
Lamar University
(TX)
$35,568.00
All Students
14
Chadron State College
(NE)
$35,880.00
All Students
15
American Public University System
(WV)
$36,900.00
$30,100.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
16
Northwest Missouri State University
(MO)
$37,080.00
All Students
17
Dickinson State University
(ND)
$37,168.56
$45,358.56
In-State
Out-of-State
18
Waldorf University
(IA)
$37,325.00
$30,125.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
19
Metropolitan State University
(MN)
$37,598.00
All Students
20
South College
(TN)
$38,400.00
All Students
21
Southern New Hampshire University
(NH)
$38,550.00
$27,150.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
22
University of Maryland Global Campus
(MD)
$38,570.00
$61,730.00
In-State
Out-of-State
23
The University of Texas Permian Basin
(TX)
$39,280.80
All Students
24
Clarion University of Pennsylvania (part of Pennsylvania Western University)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Finance AACSB,14
(PA)
$39,317.60
$44,432.80
In-State
Out-of-State
25
Colorado State University-Global Campus
(CO)
$42,000.00
All Students
26
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
(NY)
$42,001.00
$48,961.00
In-State
Out-of-State
27
Northern State University
(SD)
$42,570.00
All Students
27
Dakota State University
(SD)
$42,570.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
29
Washington State University
(WA)
$43,320.00
$48,288.00
In-State
Out-of-State
30
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
(WI)
$44,730.00
All Students
31
Columbia College - MO
(MO)
$45,000.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
32
West Texas A & M University
(TX)
$45,456.72
$52,306.96
In-State
Out-of-State
33
University of Minnesota-Crookston
(MN)
$45,528.00
All Students
34
Texas A & M University - Commerce
(TX)
$46,104.00
$95,064.00
In-State
Out-of-State
35
University of Maine
(ME)
$46,560.00
$58,200.00
In-State
Out-of-State
36
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
(WI)
$46,680.00
All Students
37
Old Dominion University
(VA)
$46,888.00
$52,528.00
$33,688.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Military
38
Wilmington University
(DE)
$47,140.00
All Students
39
LeTourneau University
(TX)
$47,550.00
All Students
40
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
(OH)
$47,760.00
All Students
41
Indiana Institute of Technology
(IN)
$47,950.00
All Students
42
Eastern Oregon University
(OR)
$48,802.00
$56,002.00
In-State
Out-of-State
43
Liberty University
(VA)
$48,892.00
$32,092.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
44
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
(MA)
$48,960.00
All Students
45
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
(MA)
$49,320.00
All Students
46
Franklin University
(OH)
$49,442.00
$31,090.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
47
Eastern Kentucky University
(KY)
$50,040.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
48
Voorhees College
(SC)
$50,545.00
All Students
49
Oral Roberts University
(OK)
$50,792.00
$31,592.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
50
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
(OK)
$51,068.00
$35,570.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
51
Gordon College
(MA)
$51,180.00
All Students
52
University of Missouri-St Louis
(MO)
$51,360.00
$128,160.00
In-State
Out-of-State
53
Southern Wesleyan University
(SC)
$51,600.00
$39,600.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
54
Salem University
(WV)
$51,800.00
$66,800.00
In-State
Out-of-State
55
Oklahoma State University
(OK)
$51,888.00
$113,970.00
In-State
Out-of-State
56
Baker College
(MI)
$51,960.00
$30,960.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
57
Cairn University
(PA)
$52,275.00
All Students
58
Metropolitan State University of Denver
(CO)
$52,360.88
$111,004.88
In-State
Out-of-State
59
Regent University
(VA)
$52,600.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
60
Park University
(MO)
$52,875.00
$30,075.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
61
Westcliff University
(CA)
$53,000.00
All Students
62
Limestone University
(SC)
$53,045.00
$29,285.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
63
University of Michigan-Flint
(MI)
$53,896.00
$58,792.00
In-State
Out-of-State
64
Kansas State University
(KS)
$54,000.00
All Students
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
University of Mount Olive
(NC)
$55,875.00
$31,275.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Bellevue University
(NE)
$56,710.00
$33,850.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Lindenwood University
(MO)
$57,100.00
All Students
University of the Southwest
(NM)
$57,200.00
All Students
Golden Gate University
(CA)
$57,606.00
$31,530.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Grand View University
(IA)
$57,760.00
$45,360.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Northwood University
(MI)
$57,890.00
$30,830.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Cambridge College
(MA)
$59,100.00
$33,620.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Johnson & Wales University
(RI)
$59,400.00
All Students
Pennsylvania State University
(PA)
$59,628.00
All Students
Upper Iowa University
(IA)
$59,830.00
$30,070.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Oregon State University
(OR)
$59,930.00
All Students
University of Massachusetts Global
(CA)
$60,000.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
University of Memphis
(TN)
$60,480.00
All Students
Walden University
(MN)
$61,385.00
$52,561.25
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Colorado Christian University
(CO)
$62,040.00
$35,760.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
DeSales University
(PA)
$62,760.00
All Students
Ottawa University
(KS)
$63,271.00
$32,395.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Central Penn College
(PA)
$63,861.00
All Students
Oregon State University
(OR)
$64,070.00
All Students
University of the Incarnate Word
(TX)
$64,890.00
$30,090.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Northeastern University
(MA)
$64,920.00
All Students
National University (School Merged)
Bachelor of Science in Financial Management IACBE,14
Bachelor of Business Administration / Economics IACBE,14
Bachelor of Business Administration / Finance IACBE,14
(CA)
$66,600.00
All Students
Excelsior College
(NY)
$67,085.00
$32,525.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Maryville University
(MO)
$67,375.00
All Students
Siena Heights University
(MI)
$67,572.00
All Students
Rutgers University
(NJ)
$67,680.00
All Students
Florida National University
(FL)
$67,860.00
$31,860.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Post University
(CT)
$72,400.00
All Students
Regis University
(CO)
$74,010.00
All Students
University of La Verne
(CA)
$78,440.00
All Students
Brenau University
(GA)
$84,480.00
$31,680.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Cleary University
(MI)
$89,520.00
All Students
Bay State College
Bachelor of Science in Management / Finance 14
(MA)
$90,402.00
All Students
University of Alabama at Birmingham
(AL)
$92,990.00
All Students
Davenport University
(MI)
$103,000.00
$70,480.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Berkeley College
(NJ)
$110,500.00
All Students
Fontbonne University (School Closing)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Finance ACBSP,14
(MO)
$112,800.00
All Students
Dallas Baptist University
(TX)
$129,880.00
All Students
Nova Southeastern University
(FL)
$138,380.00
All Students
Albertus Magnus College
(CT)
$141,768.00
All Students

Accreditation & Program Notes

To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.

14  Program is no longer accepting new students.
15  AACSB International (AACSB)
16  International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)
17  Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Rankings Note

These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited online bachelor’s degree in finance. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online bachelor degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.

The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.

Editorial Note

Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.

These rankings of the cheapest online schools for finance may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online bachelor’s degree in finance for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: Online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance

An online degree in finance prepares you to become an expert with money, budgets, and economics. “Finance” is a broad term that describes a wide range of activities surrounding banking, debt, spending, budgets, investments, and any other subject that touches on money. It includes the study of money and credit, valuation of objects and services, and micro- and macroeconomic subjects.

A finance degree, therefore, prepares you for a career that deals with all of these subjects. A finance degree will include coursework on accounting, economics, statistics, business law, and much more.

What to Expect from an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Finance

A bachelor’s degree in finance will often include two components: general studies and the core course of finance. General studies courses include basic science, math, writing, and other topics that make you a well-rounded student.

Your finance degree could be part of a larger business program. For example, you might enroll in a business degree with a focus on finance. For other programs, it’s simply a finance degree. You could also complete a finance degree with a specialization, such as corporate investments or financial planning. Regardless of these details, you can expect a variety of classes that build your understanding of how money works.

If there is a business component to your degree (a business degree with a finance specialization, for example), you’ll likely take courses that include management, business law, public speaking, and accounting.

Classes in an online bachelor’s degree in finance may include the basic principles of accounting, financial analysis, risk management, banking, and international finances. While many of these courses are based in mathematics and science (statistics, for example), some financial classes could be more theoretical, even philosophical. For example, you may complete classes that involve the ethics of finance.

Potential Careers for a Finance Degree

These degrees prepare you for many different careers. From working with massive corporations to guiding investments for retirees, a degree in finance allows you to work in any area, any industry, and any location.

Financial Advisor

  • Salary: $89,330
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None (Training required)

A financial advisor works with individuals to create a strong financial foundation, one that, hopefully, allows for a comfortable, secure retirement. Their work usually includes meeting with clients, explaining the various types of financial options, and helping clients plan for a variety of circumstances, such as college saving, home buying, and retirement.

To provide personal financial advice, you don’t need industry experience, but you do need the right education followed by specific training. Most professionals are hired by a firm, then go through a training period.

Financial Analyst

  • Salary: $83,669
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None

While financial advisors provide guidance for individuals, financial analysts largely provide support for larger organizations, especially companies. Financial advisors guide businesses in decisions that involve their money, which may include the purchase of stocks, bonds, mergers, sales, and other factors. They generally study economic trends, evaluate the current financial environment, and provide advice on how a company should move forward.

While an online bachelor’s degree in finance will qualify you for many financial analyst positions, you may need a master’s degree to work in many of the top jobs.

Licensing & Certifications for Finance Careers

Most finance careers do not require licensing or certification. But there are a few important exceptions. Financial advisors providing general guidance and information do not need licensing. However, if these professionals are buying and selling stocks on a client’s behalf, they will need licensing, which is usually connected to the products they sell.

A Certified Public Accountant, or “CPA” is another possible career for anyone who has completed an online bachelor’s degree in finance. In this career, you will also need licensing through the state’s board of accounting or whichever group oversees accounting in the state. This means passing a national exam and meeting specific state requirements.

For many finance careers, licensing is administered through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, commonly called “FINRA.” If you are selling financial products, such as insurance, you’ll likely need licensing through this national organization.

Even if licensing is not required, having certifications in your area of expertise will build your career and potentially increase your earnings. A financial analyst could benefit from Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification, which is offered though the CFA institute.