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Finance

Available as a major or minor

Finance majors develop in-demand skills that enable them to analyze data and make sound decisions in a fast-moving economic landscape. Graduates join a workforce with numerous career paths, strong salary outlooks and a growing need for skilled financial professionals, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.

Our program offers a strong foundation in financial instruments, decision-making and ethics. Students then can choose between two tracks with different strategic focuses: corporate finance and personal financial planning.

Our personal financial planning track is a Certified Financial Planner Board Registered Program. That distinction means our graduates have met the education standards required to sit for the CFP® certification exam.

We also offer a major in economics-finance. 

student talking in class

Curriculum & Courses

Sample Course Offerings

BUAD 142: Personal Financial Planning
BUAD 242: Investments
BUAD 342: Corporate Finance 

Student on a computer

What Makes Roanoke Different?

Since 2014, The Princeton Review has named Roanoke College one of the best colleges for business and finance majors in the United States.

Chart your own path

Our innovative program offers two tracks that finance majors can choose from: corporate finance and personal financial planning. 

The design allows students to delve deeper into their primary field of interest, whether it’s large-scale corporate finance or personal financial advising and wealth management. 

Courses specific to the corporate finance track could include: Fixed Income & Derivatives, Money & Banking and International Trade & Finance. In personal financial planning, a sample of courses might be: Income Tax, Retirement & Estate Planning and Insurance & Risk Management.    

Both tracks offer a strong foundation in business knowledge, such as economics, accounting and management, and equip students for success with practical, relevant skillsets.

Learn by Doing

We offer many firsthand learning opportunities for our students. 

  • Study Abroad

    Students in Spain

    We offer semester- or year-long international exchanges with more than 50 schools around the world, including Egypt, Israel, Belgium, Chile, Morocco, France, Denmark, Germany, Australia and Japan.

  • Independent Study

    Completing an Independent Study project is an excellent way to explore a topic in depth, discover a passion that can become a career, and develop skills that can set you apart when you apply for jobs or graduate study.

  • Internship Opportunities

    Many students expand their knowledge and skill sets through internship experiences off campus. This type of introduction to working in the field is very beneficial for students interested in getting jobs in the public sector after college. 

  • Clubs & Organizations

    Rotaract Club

    Our clubs and student organizations provide networking opportunities with fellow students and people already working in their field of choice. This interaction provides Roanoke students with opportunities to enhance their academic studies and build a sturdy foundation on which to begin their careers.

  • Student-Managed Fund

    student managed fun

    Unlike traditional portfolio simulators, which may encourage unrealistic and brash investment strategies, the Student-Managed Fund challenges Roanoke students to use their skills, innovation, and teamwork to responsibly grow a real investment portfolio.

Student Internships

Logos of financial groups with internship opportunities

Careers & Outcomes

Our business grads work in finance at great organizations.

Logos of major financial employers

Faculty

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News

Interested in studying finance at Roanoke College?

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