Earn Your Accelerated Finance Degree Online

A degree in finance can prepare you for well-paying, in-demand jobs in business or finance, such as financial advisor, budget analyst, or accountant.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), business and finance professionals earned a median annual wage of $79,050 as of May 2023, higher than the median annual wage of $48,060 for all occupations.

However, a finance bachelor’s degree usually requires four years to complete, which may not be ideal if you’re looking to start your career sooner. Fortunately, many schools offer accelerated, online programs that can teach you the ins and outs of the finance industry while allowing you to graduate months — or even years — sooner. Plus, they often cost thousands less than traditional, four-year degrees.

Read on to learn what accelerated finance degrees are and where you can earn one.

Accelerated online finance degrees cover the same topics as traditional programs, which include financial accounting, investments, corporate finance, and risk management, and require significant dedication to master the material in a condensed timeframe. However, accelerated programs allow you to earn a bachelor’s degree at a faster pace.

How an accelerated finance program works exactly depends on what program you attend. However, these programs often allow students to graduate sooner by offering compressed courses that you can complete in shorter academic terms. For instance, some classes might only last two months instead of four.

Some programs also offer double-counting courses or combined degree options, which means your courses could meet the requirements for more than one degree program. For example, some schools may count some core finance classes toward both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the same time, enabling you to earn both degrees more quickly.

Keep in mind that many accelerated finance programs are actually degree-completion programs. This means that they require specific prerequisites, such as a certain number of transferable college credits from another institution or an associate degree.

While traditional programs also accept transfer credits, accelerated programs generally accept a higher amount. This allows students to complete their degree in as little as 2-3 years.

People who want to enter the workforce quickly or have stopped out of college are typically great fits for accelerated programs. However, because these programs are geared toward people who want to jump into their careers, they’re quite fast-paced, so you should be prepared for intense classes in a short timeframe.

Explore our list of some popular accelerated finance programs you can pursue. We’ve included only programs offered by accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities to ensure high-quality options.

Note that most accelerated finance degrees at the bachelor’s level are degree-completion programs, which typically require around 120 credits to graduate. This means that the number of credits listed below are what’s required in addition to any credits you transfer. The credits listed could also represent the specific amount of finance-related credits required for completing the major.

An accelerated bachelor’s degree in finance can make you eligible for the same occupations as a traditional finance degree. These include budget analyst, financial manager, or financial analyst roles.

The BLS projects a faster-than-average job growth rate for these careers from 2023 to 2033. For example, financial analysts are projected to experience an estimated 9% job growth rate while the national average for all occupations is 4%.

Also, finance careers are known for offering relatively high salaries. The median annual wage for all workers in May 2023 was $48,060, which is much lower than the median annual salary for the finance jobs listed below.

Accelerated finance degrees are not only faster to complete, they’re also often cheaper — especially when offered online.

An in-person bachelor’s degree in business (which includes finance programs) cost an average of $16,941 in tuition and fees in the 2019-20 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

That same year, an online business bachelor’s degree cost an average of $10,473 in tuition and fees. Note that financial aid can often cut down these prices by nearly half.

It’s important to note that the data above reflects the average cost for a four-year bachelor’s degree. However, accelerated programs can actually be even more affordable.

Since they’re designed to be completed in a shorter time — often in 2-3 years — students can save on tuition and other related costs, such as room and board. Students can further save on costs such as room and board if they are taking their program online.

It typically takes students 2-3 years to complete an accelerated bachelor’s degree in finance. And like a traditional bachelor’s degree, an accelerated bachelor’s degree in finance requires around 120 credits to graduate.

However, an accelerated program lets you transfer in a higher number of previously-earned credits compared to a traditional one. It also may let you combine coursework, double-count classes, or enroll in condensed courses that either meet multiple graduation requirements or take less time to complete.

There are some additional ways you can complete your accelerated program faster. For example, you can shorten the timeline by taking placement exams, earning credits for prior work experience, or enrolling in summer school.

An accelerated degree in finance can prepare you for well-paying, in-demand jobs in finance and business in three years or less. They also tend to cost less than traditional four-year programs.

However, these accelerated programs can be academically challenging as they condense coursework into a shorter time frame, requiring a higher level of focus and time management.

To determine if an accelerated finance degree is the right fit for you, reflect on your academic and professional goals. You might find it helpful to write down your thoughts or discuss your plans with a teacher or advisor.