Finance

Financial professionals sit at the center of every major decision a business makes and the demand for their expertise has never been stronger. Finance and financial-management careers are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying in the U.S., making this one of the most rewarding fields you can enter. The field stretches well beyond Wall Street as financial professionals work in corporate treasury, government agencies, healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations and personal financial planning. Whether you're drawn to investment analysis, risk management, or helping families plan for retirement, a Carroll finance degree opens doors across industries.

Degree / Specializations / Minor

Finance majors at Carroll can tailor their degree to match their goals. Students deepen their expertise by choosing one of three specializations, or they can pursue an accelerated pathway that includes a Carroll MBA in just four years in total. The program also offers a variety of minors that pair well with finance and strengthen preparation for careers across business and beyond.

Carroll University Catalog | Finance Major

  • Business Finance (s)
  • Financial Engineering (s)
  • Financial Planning (s)

Carroll University Catalog | Finance Minor

About the Finance Major

If some of your best skills include understanding numbers, working in a team, solving problems creatively and communicating well, a career as a financial professional may be the right fit for you. Our faculty members have extensive knowledge and make every effort to ensure you graduate with the skills needed to succeed in your field of interest.

In Carroll University’s finance major, you’ll learn how to review and work with financial data as you put together plans and discuss topics with your peers. You’ll also spend time in classes examining case-based, real-world financial problems that impact organizations. After you analyze and present these projects to your peers, you’ll practice communication techniques for asking and answering complex questions. Other required courses allow you to explore areas of business such as marketing, management and accounting. Your working knowledge of these areas, in addition to your financial skills, will give you a competitive career advantage.

Our students engage in required internships that provide them with real-world experiences as they prepare for future careers. You’ll have the option to find an internship that best suits your career goals and schedule. By taking anywhere from one to twelve internship credits while you attend Carroll, you’ll develop the skills employers are looking for while you build your professional network. This major is enhanced with a minor in areas like accounting, actuarial science, psychology or communication.

Our curriculum is designed to prepare students for leading professional credentials, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification and the CPA pathway for those combining finance with accounting.

Finance is one of the most in-demand career fields in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial manager positions are projected to grow 17% through 2033, which is nearly three times the average for all occupations. Median annual earnings are $156,100. Financial analysts and personal financial advisors earn median salaries near $99,000, with advisor roles projected to grow 13%. Carroll graduates go on to careers as financial analysts, investment advisors, corporate controllers, portfolio managers, bank officers, financial planners, treasury managers and chief financial officers (CFOs).

Carroll's Waukesha campus places students within easy reach of a thriving financial-services hub. The greater Milwaukee metro area is home to Northwestern Mutual, Baird, Associated Bank, Fiserv, Johnson Controls, and dozens of community banks and credit unions, many of which are already Carroll internship partners.

Samantha Hartwig

Finance Major

“I really enjoy working with data and analyzing numbers to tell a story. Building skills working with analytics is like putting together a puzzle and it is very rewarding when you are successful.

“I really want to work in a global corporation, and work with individuals from many different countries and various cultural backgrounds. With the guidance of my academic advisor, I am confident in the course selections I had chosen these past years that they have helped to pre-mold me into a productive asset for any company. The liberal arts education here at Carroll focuses heavily on the cross-cultural learning and I feel that it has prepared me to be more culturally aware when working with many different individuals. The three words that come to mind when I think about how Pio Core has impacted me are Guidance, Growth, and Opportunities.

“Carroll offers class sizes that create a perfect opportunity to build relationships with your classmates and professors. The professors are not only great instructors, but they also offer great networking opportunities boost you into your next chapter of life.”

 

Finance student seated at a workstation

Internships

Hands-on experience is built into the program. Carroll finance students’ complete internships ranging from one to twelve credits at local, regional and national firms. Recent placements include:

  • Disciplined Financial Services
  • Wealth Management Group at UBS Financial Services
  • Oak Tree Financial Services
  • Baird
  • Thrivent Financial
  • U.S. Bank
  • Waukesha State Bank

Careers

A Carroll finance degree opens doors nationwide. Our graduates work at Fortune 500 companies, regional banks, investment firms, insurance companies and government agencies. Explore the industries, employers and career paths our alumni have followed. See where yours may take you.

More Resources

Meet the Faculty

Panoramic View of campus