What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?
01/14/2026
If you’ve ever wondered how businesses decide where to invest, how budgets get planned, or how financial decisions shape the world around us, a finance degree may be worth exploring.
Finance isn’t just about numbers, it’s about understanding the story they tell. From tracking trends in the stock market to supporting the financial health of financial institutions, mortgage companies, insurance companies or government agencies, graduates1 with a degree in finance may find themselves in positions that require both analytical thinking and strategic insight. Whether investigating financial trends as an analyst, guiding an organization’s financial decisions as a manager, or helping institutions plan and monitor budgets, a finance degree may provide a foundation for work that is both challenging and dynamic.
Types of Finance Degrees
At Rasmussen University, students may pursue2 careers through an online bachelor’s degree in finance designed for flexibility and real-world application.
Key features of the program typically include:
Empowered Learning®: Students may learn at their own pace with flexible online courses, live sessions with faculty, and hands-on projects.
Financial Skills Development: Students have the opportunity to learn and demonstrate financial modeling and analysis, Microsoft Excel®, budgeting, and communicating financial insights.
Professional Preparation: Students who complete the degree program may develop foundational knowledge that could be relevant to preparing for the Level I Certified Financial Analyst® Exam; however, exam eligibility and requirements are determined solely by the certifying body.
Accelerated Master’s Pathway: Students may have the opportunity to take one MBA course during the bachelor’s program, which could potentially count toward a future master’s degree.
With 23 courses total, some examples of courses include Concepts in Personal Financial Management, Money and Banking, and Investment Portfolio Management.
Typical Career Paths for Finance Graduates
Individuals with finance-related education or experience may pursue roles such as financial analysts, financial managers, and budget analysts. These positions often span industries like banking, insurance, government, and consulting. While specific responsibilities vary by role, each career path draws on a shared foundation in financial principles, critical thinking, and data analysis. The following examples illustrate common opportunities available to those with a background in finance.
Financial Analysts
Financial analysts may typically3 examine financial and economic data to support organizations or investors in making informed decisions.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a financial analysts’ typical work environment may include:4
Securities, commodity contracts and other financial investments
Professional, scientific and technical services
Credit intermediation and related activities
Management of companies and enterprises
Insurance carriers and related activities
Financial analysts responsibilities may include3 recommending investment mixes, managing money and evaluating portfolios and financial statements, evaluating investment opportunities, monitoring trends, building financial models, and providing insights to support decision-making.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of financial analysts is projected to grow5 6% from 2024 to 2034.
Financial Managers
Financial managers may6 oversee an organization’s overall financial operations and health.
According to the BLS, financial managers may work in the following types of environments:7
Finance and insurance
Professional, scientific and technical services
Management of companies and enterprises
Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals
Manufacturing
Their responsibilities typically include6 preparing financial reports and forecasts, risk management, directing investment activities, coordinating financial planning and long-term goals, supervising finance or accounting staff, and advising senior leadership.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects8 employment growth of about 15% for financial managers from 2024 to 2034.
Budget Analysts
Budget analysts typically focus9 on planning, organizing, and monitoring budgets for public and private organizations.
According to the BLS, budget analysts may work in the following types of environments:10
Federal government
Educational services
State government
Local government
Professional, scientific and technical services
Budget analysts responsibilities may involve9 preparing and consolidating budgets, reviewing proposals for accuracy and compliance, monitoring spending, forecasting financial needs, producing reports, and advising decision-makers.
The BLS estimates that the employment of budget analysts is projected to grow11 about 1% from 2024 to 2034.
All three of these roles typically draw on a finance graduate’s ability to analyze data, manage resources, and communicate findings effectively. While the work settings and day-to-day responsibilities may vary, these positions typically rely on a foundation in financial principles and analytical skills.
Rasmussen University does not guarantee employment or career advancement. Job titles and responsibilities vary by employer and industry.
Skills Gained With a Finance Degree
Rasmussen’s finance degree program emphasizes2 developing skills that may be useful in these roles, including:
Financial Analysis and Consultation: Students may interpret data and provide actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
Proficiency in Excel®: Students may build scalable, production-ready financial models.
Financial Management: Students may create budgets, forecasts, and cash flow analyses to evaluate business health.
Communication: Students may present financial findings effectively to diverse audiences.
Emerging Trends in Finance
The world of finance is constantly evolving, and recent insights12 from Deloitte®, one of the world’s largest professional services firms, providing audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services, suggests that finance professionals may soon play even more strategic and dynamic roles within organizations. According to their Finance Trends 2026 report,12 finance leaders are increasingly expected to think differently, operate differently, and hire differently as they navigate complex growth environments.
One trend highlighted is the “speed priority,” where finance professionals may use advanced scenario planning and agile governance to respond quickly to uncertainty. This means finance professionals may be involved in analyzing multiple potential outcomes and helping organizations adapt in real time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Cloud Technologies
Another trend is the growing role of finance leaders as strategy drivers, particularly as they leverage AI and cloud technologies. Finance teams may not only track numbers but also provide insights that influence broader business strategies. Similarly, there is a strong focus on precision and discipline in cost management, where finance may help organizations optimize resources and make more data-informed decisions.
Deloitte also notes that while many finance teams are adopting AI, the implementation of advanced, actionable insights often lags behind adoption, highlighting the importance of combining technical tools with analytical thinking. Finally, there is a push to integrate tech talent into finance, bringing together skills from data science and accounting to meet the demands of a more technology-driven financial landscape.
Planning Ahead With a Finance Degree
If you’re considering a finance degree, these trends suggest that future roles may involve not just traditional number-crunching but also strategic analysis, technology integration, and the ability to communicate insights that shape organizational decisions. Finance professionals may increasingly find themselves at the intersection of data, strategy, and innovation.
The occupational descriptions in this article reflect general information about roles in the finance field and are not specific outcomes of Rasmussen University programs.
Excel® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Inc.
Deloitte® is a registered trademark of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Verein; SWITZERLAND).
Robinhood® is a registered trademark of Robinhood Markets, Inc. (CORPORATION; Delaware, USA).
1Robinhood®, What Is Finance?, at https://robinhood.com/us/en/learn/articles/5sCpX8sMV5KMRaGhYBe2UK/what-is-finance/ (accessed Dec. 8, 2025).
2Rasmussen University, Finance Degree Program, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/business/finance/ (accessed Dec. 8, 2025).
3Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-2 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
4Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-3 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
5Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-6 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
6Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Finance Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm#tab-2 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
7Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Finance Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm#tab-3 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
8Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Finance Managers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm#tab-6 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
9Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Budget Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm#tab-2 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
10Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Budget Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm#tab-3 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
11Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Budget Analysts, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/budget-analysts.htm#tab-6 (accessed Dec. 8, 2025). Employment conditions may vary in your area.
12Deloitte®, CFO Survey: Finance Trends Report, at https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/what-we-do/capabilities/finance-transformation/articles/cfo-survey-finance-trends-report.html (accessed Dec. 8, 2025).
