If you are good with numbers and looking for a new career, a degree in finance may be just the thing for you. With all of the advances in modern technology, college is as close as your keyboard. To decide which college offers the degree for which you are looking, again head for that keyboard.
Go online and do some research into online degrees. You can now complete a college degree in the comfort of your own home. You can go to school while you continue to work at your present job, or you can go full-time as well. The choices are all up to you. You learn on your time schedule and at your convenience.
At the end of the article, there is a list of web sites to aid you in your research. Each site is a bit different and may list different colleges. You will notice several colleges are mention in more than one source as they offer many online degree programs and at several levels. A site may just have an alphabetical listing of colleges and you will have to click on the ones in which your are interested.
Check several colleges to see what each one offers in their online finance degree programs. Some have a form to fill out for more detailed information. If you check on the college/university web site, they will have more detailed information. When searching for information, use key words in different combinations to find the most results. Some of those key words would include: online finance degrees, finance degrees online, online degrees in finance, online degree finance, online degree in finance, accredited finance degrees online, and online finance degree programs. Using these combinations, you will find a wide selection of colleges that offer these programs.
Some of the online finance degrees available include bachelor degrees in Business/Financial Management, Corporate Finance, Accounting/Finance, Business Administration and Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning, Financial Management and Marketing, and Financial Forensics (the field that covers financial fraud and crime analysis). Several of these universities offer online finance degrees at the master’s level as well.
The opportunities for jobs in the field of finance over the next ten years are expanding. The Bureau of Statistics estimates an increase of 5%-30% in the jobs available, dependent on the area of finance. The pay is also dependent on the field as well. The lowest entry salary in finance is listed as a Real Estate Appraiser at a median average of $47,370, according to the 2008 statistics.
The median average salary for a Personal Financial Planner was listed at $69,050. The highest salary listed was for a Financial Planner at median salary of $99,330. As with any job, the salary varies with the level of education, years of experience, duties, location, and the company. The outlook for advancement is excellent in the field of finance.
The universities mentioned most frequently on the web sites below are: University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, American Intercontinental University, DeVry University, Ashford University, Post University, Drexel University, Colorado Technical University, and Jones Internet University. Log on to the web sites, and check out each of the universities in which you have an interest.
Then go to each of the universities web sites to check out the programs available online. Be sure the online program you select is accredited. If you don’t find all the information you want online, call the college of business at that university and ask to speak to an instructor. Request the information you need and ask them to send you a course catalog. Be sure you write down all your questions before you call.
You don’t want to forget an important one. While on the phone, ask about fees for online classes, expectations, projects, chat rooms, access to instructor, how you will get textbooks, and how you will take tests. Financial aid is also available for online college, so ask about that as well.
Once you decide which universities offer the programs in which you are interested, send off your applications. You may apply to several different universities and after you get accepted, you can then make your final decision. You will go through the same procedures for admission to an online college as you would for an on-campus class. You must provide all documentation and transcripts to each university. Once you are admitted, you can choose the classes you wish to take. You will have the same coursework as you would for an on-campus degree.
You will also have deadlines for papers and you may be required to have chats with your fellow classmates in an online chat-room. Good time management skills are a plus in this area. You can finish a degree online in finance in the same time it would take for an on-campus finance degree. If you go full-time, you should be able to finish a bachelor degree in four years or less. If you go part-time, it may take a bit longer. The time required is dependent on you and your circumstances. You set your own study schedule to suit your family and job constraints.
If this all sounds like the career of your dreams, and you are a highly motivated person who can get things done, then go for it. Get on your computer and start doing your search for the university that best meets your needs. Go to the search sites, check out the schools, find the finance degree you want, and send off those applications. Once you are accepted, registered, and all your books are bought and delivered, you can get on line and on track to that finance college degree and the career of a lifetime.