by our College Data Analytics TeamPublic Finance was the 1,168 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 48 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 14 over the prior year, a growth of 29.2%.
Our 2023 Best Public Finance Schools ranking analyzes 2 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for public finance students. Explore this or one of our many other custom public finance rankings further below.
A major in public finance prepares you for careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is crucial. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic public finance program qualifications, to serve in some public finance careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of public finance degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in public finance to something that takes less time like a . Public Finance programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to public finance, with approximately 41.8% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for public finance workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 39.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 3.5% |
93.4% of public finance workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in public finance have received.
The education level required is different depending on the public finance career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your public finance degree? Public Finance careers are expected to grow 15.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public finance.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | 689,000 | 18.7% |
| Financial Analysts | 328,200 | 10.8% |
| Business Professors | 123,000 | 18.0% |
| Budget Analysts | 62,200 | 6.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for public finance graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for public finance graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers public finance grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Managers | $146,830 |
| Business Professors | $103,330 |
| Financial Analysts | $100,990 |
| Budget Analysts | $79,830 |
With over 6 different public finance degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased public finance school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Public Finance that might interest you.
Invest in the analytical and quantitative skills you need to succeed in a career in finance with this online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
BS in Business Administration - Finance
Increase your potential in nearly any industrial, financial, nonprofit or government organization with this online business administration bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Managing and quantifying money is at the heart of the online bachelor's degree in finance at SNHU. You'll learn the fundamentals of investments, address key managerial issues, examine ethics from every angle and build the skillset to be a player in the multidimensional business marketplace.
One of 8 majors within the Finance & Financial Management area of study, Public Finance has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Finance | 51,779 |
| Financial Planning & Services | 4,087 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 1,022 |
| Other Finance and Financial Management Services | 362 |
| Investments and Securities | 346 |
Image Credit: By Dave Dugdale under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
