Research schools of interest to you to determine what kind financial degrees they offer. Many schools do not offer a bachelor's degree in finance. Most finance degrees at the bachelor's degree level are part of another degree program like business administration or business management. Other programs may combine it with an area like accounting. For instance, Northeastern University in Boston offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting Management. Choose a school based on reputation, cost, financial aid and other factors you may deem important for your college experience.
Complete your undergraduate general education requirements. During your first two years of school you should expect to complete various courses in areas like college algebra, English composition, literature, humanities, history, biology and chemistry, psychology, sociology and speech. General education courses are designed to provide you with a well-rounded education and establish a foundation for further study later on. Take courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics along with courses in statistics if these are not required as part of your degree plan. In some cases these courses are offered as required courses in the business curriculum and in other cases they are offered primarily as general education courses.
Complete your business curriculum coursework including your courses in finance to obtain your undergraduate degree. The curriculum may vary by institution, although most colleges and universities will have similar core curriculum courses. Business courses can include studies in areas like business fundamentals, marketing, business management and leadership, business strategy and international business. Finance courses can include studies in financial strategy, managing investments, financial reporting and analysis, taxation concepts, real estate finance and international finance, among others.
Apply for admission to a Master of Business Administration program. MBA programs offer you the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in finance and specialize in that area. Because many high level jobs in the financial sector require an MBA, consider pursuing one once you obtain your bachelor's degree. MBA degrees take one to two years to complete and can significantly increase your salary by as much as $10,000 to $30,000 annually, according to Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., of Quintessential Careers. The University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago and New York University are generally considered to be the top schools for finance, according to "U.S. News & World Report."