topTo date, we’ve asked 261 current and past finance students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it average.
There are thousands of majors available, and it can be overwhelming trying to choose one.
To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a finance degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:
- Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
- Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
- Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
- Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
- Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?
We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a finance degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.
How satisfied are finance students compared to other degrees?
Overall, finance students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.1 out of 5. This is low compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, finance students rate their happiness similarly to students in Engineering Technology, Digital Communication And Media/Multimedia and Finance and Related Studies.
Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to finance
Let's break that down further.
Are finance students satisfied with what they’re learning?
We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:
We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in finance experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.
Did finance graduates leave school with good job prospects?
Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what finance grads had to say about their job prospects:
We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
We can see there’s a cluster of positive responses, which might indicate a strong or growing job market.
Were finance students happy with their degree overall?
This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.
We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.
FAQs
Overall, finance students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.1 out of 5.
Is finance a happy career? ›
Financial careers often involve high barriers to entry, stiff competition among applicants, and a lot of stress. Still, these jobs offer numerous perks, including a challenging work environment, interaction with highly motivated and intelligent colleagues, opportunities for advancement, and excellent pay.
How happy are people in finance? ›
On average, financial managers rate the meaningfulness of their work a 2.6/5. While most financial managers aren't very fulfilled by their work, some people may still manage to find meaning in it.
Are finance majors oversaturated? ›
At number one we have finance. Given that this is one of the majors with the highest upside. while also being incredibly easy academic wise and extremely popular, you betcha this one is oversaturated and super competitive.
How stressful is a career in finance? ›
Finance is not always a stressful career, but for the highest-earning jobs it can be. Long hours and an “always on call” mentality can be extremely stressful for finance professionals, especially those dealing with global markets.
Do finance majors make 6 figures? ›
Finance can be a fiercely competitive field. It's a famously high-paying industry known to deal out six or seven figures in salaries and bonuses for those at the top. Even those on the bottom rung can expect to start at a good wage compared with other fields.
What is the hardest finance job to get? ›
1. Investment Banker. Roles in investing banking are highly sought after. For investment bankers, it's often a higher competition to land a role in one of the largest firms.
Is finance a good major for introverts? ›
Financial Manager Positions
These financial management positions include controllers, treasurers, credit managers, cash managers, risk managers and insurance managers. Since each of these positions requires strong analytical skills along with the ability to work independently, introverts tend to make ideal candidates.
Do finance majors have good work life balance? ›
This can lead to unpredictable work hours and the need for constant availability, which complicates the pursuit of work-life balance for these professionals. However, the degree to which Financial Representatives achieve a good work-life balance can vary widely.
What type of person is good at finance? ›
The best people in finance understand that in order to succeed, they must aid and encourage success in others. They are sharp, analytical thinkers, but also strong communicators who can share their insights when they are called upon.
Many accounting and finance professionals love the scope and dynamic aspects of their jobs. They like being able to tap their technological know-how, methodical approaches to problem solving and deep understanding of how businesses work.
Why do people struggle with finance? ›
The reasons that most people struggle financially will vary on the individual case but can include a lack of financial literacy, a scarcity mindset, self-esteem issues leading to overspending, and unavoidable high costs of living.
Is finance a stable career? ›
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that business and finance jobs will be in demand from 2022 to 2032, with 911,400 openings on average each year. Certain roles within finance, like financial examiner, are expected to grow over six times faster than the rate for all occupations nationwide.
What are the cons of finance major? ›
Cons of getting a finance degree
Long hours: Many finance jobs require long hours, particularly in investment banking and other high-pressure roles. Stressful work environment: The finance industry can be stressful, particularly during economic uncertainty or market volatility.
What percent of finance majors are unemployed? ›
College majors sorted by employment rates, wages and graduate degrees
| College Major | Unemployment rate | Median Wage Early Career |
|---|
| Finance | 4.1% | $60,000 |
| Fine arts | 12.1% | $40,000 |
| Foreign language | 7.8% | $43,000 |
| General business | 5.3% | $50,000 |
65 more rowsFinally, a career in finance can obviously be financially rewarding, with a wide spectrum of potential based on job. As you consider this field and these two paths, think about what's important to you. And remember: A career in finance is more than just math.
What degree has the highest satisfaction? ›
Our recent study confirms a lot of oft-given advice and trends: STEM majors are most likely to be satisfied with their major choices, likely because of the higher salaries and job opportunities.
Are finance majors in high demand? ›
Careers in finance may also offer flexibility for employees by allowing them to work remotely or in hybrid environments. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that business and finance jobs will be in demand from 2022 to 2032, with 911,400 openings on average each year.
How hard is finance as a major? ›
Is Finance a Hard Major? Finance is a somewhat difficult major. The difficulty with finance comes down to its concepts that students would not have experienced before in their lives, the financial lingo in the field, and the concentration of math in the subject.
