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Reynolds Hall and Downtown area of campus
John Chambers College of Business and Economics

Finance, BSBA

Finance is the study of the creation and management of wealth. Finance majors learn how to evaluate and control assets and risks to maximize the value to owners or beneficiaries.

This involves such day-to-day activities as collecting and paying money and interacting with banks and other financial institutions. Also involved is long-range planning about what building and equipment to buy, what stocks to purchase or issue, managing dividends and interest, using insurance to protect assets, and developing new financial instruments or services.

With a Finance degree, you’ll be prepared for careers on either side of the desk: as a seller or buyer of investments, as a credit seeker or credit grantor, and as a purveyor or recipient of insurance services.

Your Degree Plan

We stress hands-on learning. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to sit for the Certified Financial Planner, Certified Valuation Analyst, and Certified Financial Analyst exams.
Tailor this major to your interests by focusing your coursework in 1 of these areas:

Banking

Preparation for successful careers in the banking industry. Graduates will be familiar with the composition of this sector, its regulatory environment, and factors influencing commercial bank performance.
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Corporate Finance and Valuation

Meets professional standards required for the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) certification.
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Energy Finance

Preparation for jobs in financial engineering, funding, commodity trading, project proforma modeling, deal structuring, and risk analysis.
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General Finance

Available to Finance majors who do not meet the requirements of other Areas of Emphasis.
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Investments

Preparation for asset management jobs, such as research analysts, traders, financial analysts, investment bankers, portfolio managers, and chief investment officers.
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Risk Management and Insurance

Preparation for practices and procedures in the business of corporate risk management and insurance industry operations.
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Take advantage of special options related to this major:

Honors

Expand your curiosity and enhance your curriculum through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations and Honors in Action.

The WVU Difference

What sets this program apart?

  • Small business plan competitions.
  • Access to the Bloomberg lab, where an 8-hour certification can be completed at no extra cost.
  • 1 of the only in-class, undergraduate financial planning programs in the U.S. approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
  • “Concept through operation” business services available through Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
  • Finance faculty have received numerous teaching awards and are widely published in leading finance journals. They have also written textbooks, teaching materials, and software packages.
  • Professional and social programs, guest speakers, and networking opportunities available through the Finance Club.
  • Chambers College awards over 100 merit and need-based scholarships annually, in addition to WVU scholarships.
  • Reynolds Hall, home of the Chambers College, opened in 2022.
  • Chambers College is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, the highest level of business school accreditation in the world.

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

  • Roll Capital Markets Center, a financial trading lab equipped with Bloomberg terminals and a stock ticker where you can examine real-time data to prepare for jobs in the financial industry.
  • Student Managed Investment Fund, an actively managed student investment portfolio.
  • 3-Course Investing Sequence, which culminates in you and your team managing a $100,000 real money portfolio.
You’re encouraged to participate in an internship after your 1st semester in the Chambers College. Internships are an extension of the learning experience and provide insights into the actual operations of an organization. Our Center for Career Development uses its extensive network of firms and organizations to help you find the right internship.

Careers and Outcomes

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

Median Salary: $87,930

Possible Job Titles: Budget Analyst, Budget and Policy Analyst, Budget Officer, Budget Planning Analyst

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Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $138,060

Possible Job Titles: District Sales Manager, Sales Director, Sales Manager, Sales Vice President (Sales VP)

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Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $161,700

Possible Job Titles: Banking Center Manager (BCM), Branch Manager, Credit Administration Manager, Financial Center Manager

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Credit Analysts

Analyze credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with credit information for use in decisionmaking.

Median Salary: $80,970

Possible Job Titles: Credit Administrator, Credit Analyst, Credit Officer, Credit Representative

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Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients’ assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $102,140

Possible Job Titles: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, Portfolio Manager

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Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $106,009

Possible Job Titles: Analyst, Risk Analyst, Risk Specialist, Securities Analyst

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Loan Officers

Evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans. Advise borrowers on financial status and payment methods. Includes mortgage loan officers and agents, collection analysts, loan servicing officers, loan underwriters, and payday loan officers.

Median Salary: $74,180

Possible Job Titles: Commercial Loan Officer, Financial Aid Counselor, Loan Counselor, Loan Officer

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Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.

Has a Bright Outlook

Median Salary: $78,140

Possible Job Titles: Broker, Equity Trader, Financial Advisor, Financial Consultant

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Career paths

Finance graduates can sit for the following exams:

  • Certified Financial Planner
  • Certified Valuation Analyst
  • Certified Financial Analyst

Where graduates are working

  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • First United
  • WesBanco
  • AXA Advisors
  • Aldi
  • Viatris
  • State Street

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the Finance major, first-time freshmen must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Admission to Business

You must meet the following requirements:

  • High School GPA: 2.5
  • ACT Math: 20
  • SAT Math: 520

For direct admission to majors in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics

You must meet the following requirements:

  • High School GPA: 3.0

Tuition and Aid

How much does Finance at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

Ways to Save

Beyond scholarships, here are other ways to reduce your cost of attending WVU.

Financial Aid

The most important step toward funding your future with financial aid for the Finance, BSBA is submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

How to Complete the FAFSA

Start at Another WVU Campus

You can start your career with WVU at another campus and transfer to WVU Morgantown.

Explore WVU System

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Request Info

Want to know more about Finance at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

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