The Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs for 2026

The Wisconsin School of Business runs a dedicated BBA track in Finance, Investment, and Banking that goes past a generic corporate-finance survey: security analysis and valuation, security trading, capital structure, financial risk management, venture capital, and financial technology all show up in the curriculum. Coursework asks students to build actual models of financial decisions: an investor's portfolio choice problem, a corporation's security issuance, a bank's investment structure, rather than only studying the theory behind them. Students can also join any of ten finance-specific student organizations, including the Investment Banking Club, the Wisconsin Private Equity Club, and the Sales & Trading and Asset Management Society.

Getting into the major is a second admission gate on top of general UW-Madison admission: a 3.0 minimum GPA, required coursework in Communication A, microeconomics, and calculus, a mid-March application deadline, and a mandatory Pre-Business 101 workshop. That filter sits behind a 90% graduation rate, a strong completion number for a program admitting from a university with a 45% overall admit rate and 51,044 total students. Wisconsin's Hakia Score of 97.6 ranks it 5th nationally among finance bachelor's programs. The value case is sharpest for residents: in-state tuition of $10,006 runs $30,500 below the $40,506 out-of-state rate, a gap larger than three years of in-state tuition by itself.

Gies College of Business built its Finance BS around a "tools of the trade" philosophy. After core courses in Financial Markets, Advanced Corporate Finance, and Investment & Portfolio Management, students choose four additional 400-level finance electives plus one more elective at the 200-level or above, and the program's stated goals require proficiency in Excel, Bloomberg, Morningstar, and Capital IQ, the same platforms used on trading desks and in equity research. Learning outcomes also call for written and verbal communication competency and consistent ethical practice, not just valuation mechanics.

Illinois posts an 85% graduation rate against a 42% admit rate at a university enrolling 59,238 students, one of the largest undergraduate business populations in this group. In-state tuition is $14,975; out-of-state runs $36,804, a $21,829 gap. The finance degree is available both on campus and online, letting students outside Champaign work through the same Bloomberg-and-Capital IQ curriculum remotely. A Hakia Score of 97.0 ranks the program 6th nationally among finance bachelor's programs.

Georgetown's McDonough School of Business compresses its finance major into fifteen credits of FINC coursework, each course worth 1.5 credits and running just seven weeks instead of a full semester. Nine of those credits are required: Corporate Valuation, Quantitative Investment Strategies, Machine Learning for Finance, Investments, Global Financial Institutions, and Derivatives. The remaining six elective credits come from a list built around specific Wall Street tracks: Investment Banking, Private Equity, Venture Capital, Hedge Fund Investing, Mergers and Acquisitions, Fixed Income Securities, and Sustainable Investing among them, plus a Financial Statement Analysis option cross-listed from the accounting department.

Admission is the real filter: a 13% admit rate, the second-tightest in this group, backs a 95% graduation rate. Tuition is flat at $67,896 regardless of residency, standard for a private university, at a school enrolling 20,031 students total. Georgetown's Hakia Score of 96.9 places it 7th nationally among finance bachelor's programs. The elective list reads like a buy-side and sell-side recruiting menu, and the Washington D.C. location gives the Financial Regulatory Policy elective a level of access to actual regulators that few other campuses can match.

Notre Dame's finance major sits in the Department of Finance at the Mendoza College of Business and carries a STEM designation, a classification most undergraduate finance degrees do not have. Required courses include Investment Theory, Corporate Financial Reporting, and Managerial Economics, and the department runs the Clark Lecture Series, bringing in outside speakers on topics the school describes as ranging from banker compensation to how labor obligations affect credit markets. Students can add a Finance Minor or a Real Estate Minor, and the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing gives finance majors a research and portfolio outlet beyond regular coursework.

An 11% admit rate makes this the most selective program in the group, paired with a 95% graduation rate, the highest completion rate among these four schools alongside Georgetown. Tuition is flat at $64,518 for every student since Notre Dame is private, and the university enrolls 13,042 total, the smallest campus on this list, pointing to a more residential, cohort-based undergraduate experience than the large public flagships above. Notre Dame's Hakia Score of 96.9 ranks it 8th nationally, tied on score with Georgetown but a notch lower in the overall order.

Washington University in St. Louis awards a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance requiring 12 units total: a 9-unit core of Investments, Advanced Financial Management, and Options, Futures and Derivative Securities, plus 3 units of electives. The elective list runs deep for an undergraduate program, letting students specialize in Venture Capital Methods and Practice, Private Equity Methods and Practice, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate Finance, International Finance, Financial Technology, and a capstone-style Investment Praxis course.

The program pairs a 94% graduation rate with a 12% admit rate, the tightest gate of any school in this group. Tuition runs a flat $64,500 whether a student is from Missouri or elsewhere, since WashU sets no in-state discount. Enrollment sits at 16,357 across the university. With a Hakia Score of 96.9, WashU ranks 9th nationally in this bachelor's in finance list, a position earned by near-universal completion combined with a specialty elective menu, including private equity and venture capital tracks, that most public programs cannot offer at the undergraduate level.

The University of Georgia's Terry College of Business offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance built around financial management, investment analysis, financial institutions and markets, and international finance. Coursework covers investment management, mergers and acquisitions, trading strategies, derivatives, and financial modeling, and the college reports placing more than 200 finance students in internships this year at firms including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, PwC, Truist, and KPMG.

UGA posts a 90% graduation rate against a 38% admit rate, the most accessible combination in this group. In-state tuition is $10,034 a year; out-of-state students pay $30,272, still less than any of the three private schools on this list charge in-state. Enrollment across the university reaches 43,146. A Hakia Score of 96.8 places UGA 10th nationally in this ranking, a result driven by a 90% completion rate and a documented pipeline into major banks and consulting firms at a fraction of private-school cost.

Boston College's Carroll School of Management houses its finance concentration inside the Seidner Department of Finance, which the school reports is consistently ranked among the top 10 undergraduate finance programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The concentration requires six courses: four core classes in Financial Accounting, Fundamentals of Finance, Corporate Finance, and Investments, plus two electives drawn from a list spanning Investment Banking, Fixed Income Analysis, Active Portfolio Management, Behavioral Finance, Data Analytics in Finance, and FinTech and Cryptocurrencies. The department also runs weekly seminars with outside scholars and practitioners.

The program's 91% graduation rate comes against a 16% admit rate, among the most selective in this group. Tuition is a flat $69,400 regardless of home state, the highest of the four schools here. Enrollment across the university is 15,432. A Hakia Score of 96.5 ranks Boston College 11th nationally, reflecting a program that pairs high completion and low admittance with an elective roster deep enough to specialize in investment banking, fixed income, or fintech before graduation.

Florida State University's Herbert Wertheim College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science in Finance aimed at financial management and analysis, commercial and investment banking, financial institutions, portfolio analysis, and multinational finance. Students get hands-on training through the college's Student Investment Fund and Trading Room, and qualified students can enter a combined bachelor's/master's pathway that double-counts up to nine credit hours toward both degrees. Student groups include the Finance Society, the Noles on Wall Street sophomore investment banking program, and the Undergraduate Investment Group.

FSU's graduation rate is 86% with a 24% admit rate. In-state tuition is $4,640 a year, the lowest by far in this group, less than half of UGA's in-state rate and a fraction of what the two private schools here charge; out-of-state tuition is $19,084. Enrollment is 43,889, the largest in this set. A Hakia Score of 96.1 puts FSU 12th nationally, a ranking earned by the lowest cost of entry in the group combined with a built-in path to a master's degree.

University of Washington-Seattle Campus is a public institution in Seattle, WA. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #12 of the 24 analyzed here with a 96.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the middle third of the 24 ranked programs, 2.4 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 85% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of Washington-Seattle Campus admits 39% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, University of Washington-Seattle Campus charges $11,869 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $42,105 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $47,476 in tuition for residents, against $168,420 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

Tulane University of Louisiana is a private, nonprofit institution in New Orleans, LA. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #13 of the 24 analyzed here with a 95.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the middle third of the 24 ranked programs, 2.6 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Tulane University of Louisiana admits 14% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Tulane University of Louisiana charges $64,372 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $257,488 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Wake Forest University is a private, nonprofit institution in Winston-Salem, NC. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #14 of the 24 analyzed here with a 95.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the middle third of the 24 ranked programs, 2.8 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 89% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Wake Forest University admits 22% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Wake Forest University charges $66,470 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $265,880 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #15 of the 24 ranked here, earning a 95.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the middle third of the 24 ranked programs, 2.8 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 92% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. Villanova University admits 27% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Villanova University charges $66,838 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $267,352 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #16 of the 24 ranked here, earning a 95.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the middle third of the 24 ranked programs, 2.9 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 86% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University admits 55% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University charges $13,152 a year in-state, roughly 2.6x the $34,362 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $52,608 in tuition for residents, against $137,448 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 24 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Texas A&M University-College Station is a public institution in College Station, TX. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #17 of the 24 analyzed here with a 95.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Texas A&M University-College Station admits 57% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Texas A&M University-College Station charges $9,092 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $36,169 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $36,368 in tuition for residents, against $144,676 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.

University of Pennsylvania is a private, nonprofit institution in Philadelphia, PA. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #18 of the 24 analyzed here with a 95.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.1 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 97% of its students, above the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of Pennsylvania admits 5% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 29,109 students.

On cost, University of Pennsylvania charges $60,920 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $243,680 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.

Lehigh University is a private, nonprofit institution in Bethlehem, PA. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #19 of the 24 analyzed here with a 95.0 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.4 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 88% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Lehigh University admits 26% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Lehigh University charges $63,930 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $255,720 in tuition. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Based in Coral Gables, FL, University of Miami is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #20 of the 24 ranked here, earning a 94.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. University of Miami admits 19% of applicants, more selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, University of Miami charges $60,720 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $242,880 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its genuine selectivity.

Ohio State University-Main Campus is a public institution in Columbus, OH. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #21 of the 24 analyzed here with a 94.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.5 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 88% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Ohio State University-Main Campus charges $12,180 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $38,958 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $48,720 in tuition for residents, against $155,832 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 24 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public institution in New Brunswick, NJ. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #22 of the 24 analyzed here with a 94.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.7 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 84% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Rutgers University-New Brunswick admits 58% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Rutgers University-New Brunswick charges $14,222 a year in-state, roughly 2.4x the $33,734 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $56,888 in tuition for residents, against $134,936 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 24 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Clemson University is a public institution in Clemson, SC. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #23 of the 24 analyzed here with a 94.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 3.7 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 87% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Clemson University admits 38% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 81% to 97%.

On cost, Clemson University charges $14,038 a year in-state, roughly 2.8x the $39,350 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $56,152 in tuition for residents, against $157,400 for non-residents. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. It earns its place in the top 24 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.

Based in Provo, UT, Brigham Young University is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #24 of the 24 ranked here, earning a 94.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 96.1 group average, in the lower third of the 24 ranked programs, 4.1 points behind top-ranked University of Florida. The program graduates 81% of its students, below the 89% average across the ranked schools. Brigham Young University admits 68% of applicants, less selective than the 33% average for the group. That is more open than the 5% rate at University of Pennsylvania, the most selective program on this list.

On cost, Brigham Young University charges $6,688 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $26,752 in tuition. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,477 at University of Florida to $69,400 at Boston College. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. Graduates step into a field with an $88,870 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.