At a Glance
$525
Cost per Credit
120
Credit Hours
100%
Online
2-4 years
Program LengthBachelor’s in Finance, BA/BS
Program Overview
At a Glance
$525
Cost per Credit
120
Credit Hours
100%
Online
2-4 years
Program LengthWhy Study Finance?
The bachelor’s degree in finance online program offers the opportunity to pursue a BA or BS degree in finance credential, and is designed to prepare students to advance organizational or individual financial performance through a solid foundation in key financial concepts and applications. Choose to specialize in one of four tracks, including corporate finance, investments, financial institutions and markets, and personal finance, or stretch your expertise across multiple tracks to align with your career goals.
What Do You Learn in a Finance Major?
From financial theory and cash management to the fundamentals of running a business, your bachelor of science in finance program coursework helps to cultivate foundational knowledge and skill in finance, enhanced through focuses in the stock market, equity, real estate, financial planning, investment banking, asset management, financial services, business finance, wealth, bonds, and budgeting. Enrich these studies through an exploration in the following areas:
- Analysis of the Housing Market and Home Purchase Process
- Financial Institutions and Markets
- Risk and Insurance
- Personal Finance and Consumer Finance
- Theory of Financial Mathematics
- Financial Institutions and Markets
- Finance Business Ventures
- Econometrics, Money and Banking
Essential Skills & Insights
Coursework in this BA in finance online program covers the following:
- Financial Decision-Making: learn to make decisions driven by solid financial data and analysis that strengthen financial performance.
- Financial Modeling: interpreting financial models to forecast performance.
- Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating financial risks.
- Proficiency in Financial Software: Using software for financial analysis, modeling, and reporting.
- Management Skills: develop your management approach through a financial lens.
- Investment Strategies: Understanding investment strategies to make informed investment decisions.
- Data Analytics for Finance: build out expertise in data analytics tools and techniques that drive financial strategy and solutions.
- Communication Skills: cultivate business communications and a relationship-building aptitude to better grasp organizational needs for financial planning and strategy.
- Negotiation: Negotiating terms and conditions for financial transactions and agreements.
Accreditations/Affiliations
The online BS in Finance is ACBSP-accredited, reflecting the highest standards of business education as established in the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence.
The Finance Program is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) University Affiliated Program. Curriculum covers nearly 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). There are only 245 U.S. schools that have CFA University Affiliated Programs.
Lindenwood Finance Degree Advantages
As a student in Lindenwood’s online BS in finance program you can benefit from a number of unique advantages, including the following:
- Lindenwood’s Finance Department oversees the University’s student-managed investment fund of $100,000+
- Access to CFA scholarships
- Field trips to the Chicago Board Options Exchange, TD Ameritrade, and CFA St. Louis Seminars
- Personal Finance and CFA competitions
Career Outlook
Graduates of our bachelor’s in finance online program can take on finance roles a number of industries, including Budget Analyst, Financial Analyst, Cost Estimator, Compliance Officer, and Loan Officer. Explore the career outlooks for these roles below.
- Accountants and Auditors: $79,880 per year
- Budget Analysts/Financial Analysts: $84,940 per year?$99,890 per year
- Compliance Officers: $75,670 per year
- Cost Estimators: $74,740 per year
- Loan Officers: $69,990 per year
Data is from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbooks and Finance Occupation projection – Overall employment in legal occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. About 963,500 openings are projected each year, on average.
Top industry employers of our recent graduates include the following:
- American Bank of Missouri
- Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Bank of America
- Boeing
- Edward Jones
- Goldman Sachs
- KPMG
- Maryville Consultant Group
- Parkside Financial Bank & Trust
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)
- Stifel Financial
- Synergy Wealth Solutions, a MassMutual Firm
- TD Ameritrade
- The America Group, LLC
- Wells Fargo
Tuition Details
The cost per credit hour for this online bachelor’s degree in finance program is $525. Besides being ranked No. 17 on Niche.com’s list of Best Value Colleges in Missouri, we build in unique benefits such as our 20 percent discount per credit hour for returning alumni pursuing their master’s degree.
Admissions Requirements
For admission to your online finance degree program, you will need to complete your online application and submit the following documents:
- Online application
- Official transcripts
All colleges and universities previously attended. If you have fewer than 24 college credits, you will need to submit your official high school transcript.
If cumulative college GPA is below a 2.0, the following will also be required:
- Résumé
- Letter of intent/personal statement
(1–2 page document indicating your interest in the program and Lindenwood)
TRANSFER CREDITS
Lindenwood offers a generous transfer policy of up to 90 credits toward your bachelor’s degree in finance online completion to further offset tuition costs. This means you can complete your degree in as few as 30 credit hours at Lindenwood—saving you time and money on your education!
Plus, you can personalize your transfer experience through Lindenwood’s Transfer Guides. These guides are part of our articulation partnerships with area community college to help you get the most value from your transfer credit.
Learn MoreCurriculum Overview
The online BA or BS in Finance program at Lindenwood University provides a comprehensive curriculum designed to help you develop strong analytical and financial management skills. With the guidance of faculty who are experienced finance professionals, you can gain knowledge in investment analysis, risk management, and financial planning. Upon completion, you can pursue a wide variety of careers in finance and related industries. You can also set your sights on graduate-level programs to qualify for executive-level roles in corporate finance, investment banking, and more.
Finance Internship
Bachelor’s degree in finance online students are required to complete a 9-credit hour finance internship. Through this experience, students gain firsthand understanding of real world practices in the finance field.
BA vs BS in Finance at Lindenwood Online
Major Credit Hours: BA in Finance requires between 75-77 credit hours in major courses
- Elective Coursework Requirements – 15 credit hours of coursework from the following options from the Finance, BA Catalog.
Major Credit Hours: BS in Finance requires between 78-80 credit hours in major courses
- Elective Coursework Requirements – 12 credit hours of coursework from the following options from the Finance, BS catalog.
Core Coursework – 33 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 21010 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 21011 | Principles of Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| FIN 32000 | Principles of Finance | 3 |
| MGMT 16025 | Introduction to Business and Free Enterprise | 3 |
| MGMT 24000 | Introduction to Information Systems | 3 |
| MGMT 26032 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MGMT 26061 | Business Law I | 3 |
| MGMT 36000 | Principles of International Business | 3 |
| MGMT 36033 | Business Analytics I | 3 |
| MGMT 46082 | Management Policy | 3 |
| MRKT 35010 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
Human Resource Functions Coursework – 3 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HRM 36510 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGMT 36050 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
Social Sciences Coursework – 6 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 23020 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 23030 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
Communications Coursework – 3 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 10200 | Public Debate | 3 |
| COM 10500 | Group Dynamics and Effective Speaking | 3 |
| COM 11000 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 23000 | Business Communications | 3 |
| SW 20000 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
Major Coursework – 12 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FIN 32010 | Corporate Finance I | 3 |
| FIN 32020 | Investments I | 3 |
| FIN 32050 | Financial Institutions and Markets | 3 |
| FIN 42080 | Seminar in Finance | 3 |
Elective Coursework – 12 Credit Hours
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 31020 | Financial Accounting and Reporting I | 3 |
| ACCT 31050 | Income Tax | 3 |
| ACCT 41070 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 33025 | Money and Banking | 3 |
| ENTR 37520 | Real Estate Principles | 3 |
| FIN 32015 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 32035 | Retirement Planning | 3 |
| FIN 32040 | Risk and Insurance | 3 |
| FIN 42040 | Investment Applications | 3-6 |
| MTH 32400 | Theory of Financial Mathematics I | 3 |
| FIN 42095 | Internship | 1-9 |
Career Opportunities
Financial Analyst
Analyze financial data and market trends to provide investment recommendations and financial planning services to individuals or businesses.
Financial Manager
Oversee the financial health of an organization, including budgeting, forecasting, and managing investments.
Investment Banker
Facilitate financial advisory services for businesses, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, and other complex financial transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a BA and BS in Finance?
A BA degree in finance offers a broader education that can include focuses outside of finance, within the humanities, such as communications and foreign languages. A BS degree focuses more specifically in finance and develops more technical and precise skill within finance
What is the difference between finance and accounting?
Finance focuses on the active aspects of financial performance, i.e. investing, money management, etc., whereas accounting takes a more responsive approach to financial strategy through a broad look at an organization or individual’s finances through the lens of accounting practices, i.e. accounts payable and receivable, bookkeeping, auditing, etc.
What should I know before majoring in finance?
Before you major in finance you should know that this field requires an aptitude for math, analytical thinking, and decision-making that relies heavily on financial data and data analysis to support financial performance.
What can I do with a bachelor’s degree in finance?
Finance offers a wide career path, and graduates can pursue roles in a number of exciting industries, including fintech, banking, real estate, financial planning, non-profit, government, and healthcare.
What types of finance internships are available?
There are a number of finance internships available through Lindenwood’s faculty, advisors, and career center staff who can connect finance students with businesses in the community offering internship opportunities.
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Throughout each step of your online degree program, you will receive support. From enrollment and tuition planning to staying on the right track, your support team is there to ensure your success.
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