Finance and Business Degrees: Compare Every Level

Business and finance degrees run from short certificates to doctorates. The right level depends on where you’re starting, the work you want to do, and how much time and money you can put in.

This page lines up each level side by side and links to our full guide for each degree. Whether you’re starting college, finishing a degree you started years ago, or planning a career change, start with the comparison below.


By the
Finance-Degree.com Team

Updated November 2026

Side by side

Compare degree levels

Each level builds on the one before it. Lengths below assume full-time study; part-time, transfer credit, and accelerated terms all change the timeline.

Business and finance degree levels compared. Requirements vary by school.
Level Typical length Usually requires Often a fit for
Certificate A few months to about a year Varies; some require a prior degree Adding a specific skill or testing a new field
Associate About 2 years (around 60 credits) High school diploma or equivalent Entry-level business roles, or a lower-cost start toward a bachelor’s
Bachelor’s About 4 years High school diploma or equivalent; test policies vary Most professional roles in finance, accounting, and banking
Master’s or MBA Often 1 to 2 years Bachelor’s degree; some programs want work experience or GMAT/GRE scores Specializing, moving into management, or changing careers
Doctorate Several years; varies widely Master’s degree in most cases Research, teaching, or senior leadership

Federal education data defines an associate degree as at least two but fewer than four years of full-time college work, and a bachelor’s as at least four but no more than five (see the IPEDS definitions for
associate
and
bachelor’s
degrees).

Education and earnings

What the latest national data show

$1,135

2025 median weekly earnings for workers whose highest degree is an associate degree. Unemployment rate: 3.0%.

$1,578

2025 median weekly earnings for workers whose highest degree is a bachelor’s. Unemployment rate: 2.8%.

$1,876

2025 median weekly earnings for workers whose highest degree is a master’s. Unemployment rate: 2.6%.

For comparison, the median for workers with a high school diploma and no college was $966. All figures are for full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older, across every field of study. They don’t predict what any one student, school, or program will earn. BLS notes the 2025 averages exclude October, when data weren’t collected during the federal government shutdown.

Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Pays, 2025
.

Browse by level

Our degree guides

Each guide covers what you’ll study, how long it takes, where it can lead, and what to check before you enroll.

Associate degrees

Business

Associate Degree in Business

Two years of business basics: accounting, finance, management, and marketing. A common first step toward a bachelor’s.

Bachelor’s degrees

Finance

Bachelor’s in Finance

Financial analysis, markets, investments, and corporate finance. The most direct route into finance roles.

Accounting

Bachelor’s in Accounting

Financial reporting, auditing, and tax. The usual starting point for a CPA path.

Banking

BBA in Banking

A business degree focused on lending, credit, and how banks operate.

Economics

Economics Degree

How markets, policy, and prices work. Heavier on theory and data than a business degree.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Degree

Starting, funding, and running a business, with the finance and marketing basics behind it.

Master’s degrees and MBAs

Finance

Master’s in Finance

Specialized, finance-only graduate study. Often shorter and more technical than an MBA.

Business

MBA

Broad graduate business training in strategy, leadership, operations, and finance.

Finance

MBA in Finance

An MBA with advanced finance courses layered on top of the core management curriculum.

Corporate finance

MBA in Corporate Finance

Capital budgeting, valuation, and financial strategy inside companies.

Doctorates, certificates, and comparisons

Make the call

How to choose the right level

Start with the job, then work backward to the degree. It’s easier to pick a program when you know what employers in that field ask for.

  1. Look up the role you want

    The
    BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
    lists the typical entry-level education for hundreds of jobs. Our
    finance career guides
    cover the most common ones.

  2. Match the level to the requirement

    BLS lists a bachelor’s as the typical entry-level education for
    financial analysts
    .
    Financial managers
    typically need a bachelor’s plus five or more years of related experience.

  3. Count the full cost

    Compare total price after aid, how long you’ll be in school, and what you’d earn in the meantime. The
    College Scorecard
    shows costs and outcomes by school.

  4. Plan the next step now

    If you might keep going later, choose a program whose credits are likely to transfer, and confirm it in writing with the next school.

Our take

There’s no single right starting point. Some people go straight from high school to a bachelor’s. Others start with an associate degree while working, or come back years later for an MBA. Pick the level that fits where you are now and leaves the next door open.

Inside the programs

Typical coursework by stage

Course names and numbers vary by school, but the progression is similar almost everywhere: broad foundations first, specialized finance later.

First two years

  • College writing and public speaking
  • College math and statistics
  • Micro- and macroeconomics
  • Financial and managerial accounting
  • Management information systems
  • Business law

Later years of a bachelor’s

  • Business and corporate finance
  • Financial statement analysis
  • Investments and markets
  • Operations management
  • International finance
  • A capstone or business simulation

Many first- and second-year courses count toward both associate and bachelor’s degrees. Graduate courses are often numbered 500 and up, but numbering isn’t universal. Check each school’s official catalog.

Beyond the diploma

Degrees and professional credentials

A degree is often one piece of the requirement. Many finance careers also involve licenses or certifications, each with its own exams and experience rules.

  • The
    CFP® certification
    requires a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited school.
  • CPA licensing rules are set by each state, so check your state board before choosing an accounting program.
  • Securities and mortgage roles usually require exams and registration on top of any degree. See our
    guide to FINRA licensing
    .
  • Employers often value experience as much as the credential itself, especially for management roles.

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Common questions

Finance degree FAQs

What’s the difference between a finance degree and a business degree?

A business degree covers many functions, including marketing, management, operations, and finance. A finance degree goes deeper on money: analysis, investments, markets, and corporate finance. Many finance degrees are offered inside a business school, so you’ll take some of both.

Can I start with an associate degree and finish a bachelor’s later?

Yes, and many people do. The key is transfer credit: the school you transfer into decides which courses count. Ask that school for a written evaluation before you register.

Do I need an MBA to work in finance?

Usually not to get started. Most entry-level finance roles list a bachelor’s as the typical education. An MBA is more common for people moving into management or switching careers.

Is an online finance degree respected?

What matters most is the school’s accreditation and the program itself, not the format. Check that the school is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Master’s in finance or MBA: which is better?

It depends on the goal. A master’s in finance is narrower and more technical. An MBA is broader and often geared toward leadership. Our
master’s in finance
and
MBA
guides compare what each covers.