A finance major leads into investment, corporate-finance and risk roles. This page connects the degree to the careers it feeds, the exams that gate the early steps (CFA, FRM, CFP, CAIA), and the point where progression is driven by experience rather than another exam.
Major · CIP 52.0801
Finance
A finance major opens investment, corporate-finance and risk careers. The path is part exam-gated (the CFA for investment analysis, the FRM for risk, the CFP for planning) and part experience-driven, especially at the senior end.
Where this major leads
The careers this degree commonly feeds, and the path to each - including the exams along the way.
- Financial Analyst Entry Financial AnalystFinancial AnalystFinancial Analyst (mid)Senior Financial AnalystView the full path →
- Portfolio Manager Investment / Research AnalystResearch AnalystSenior / Buy-side AnalystPortfolio ManagerView the full path →
- Management Consultant Undergraduate / Pre-consultingAnalyst / Junior ConsultantMBA candidateConsultant / Senior ConsultantEngagement Manager / Principal / PartnerView the full path →
FAQ
- CFA or an MBA after a finance degree?
- Different tools. The CFA is the investment-analysis credential and is exam-gated across three levels; an MBA is a degree that helps broaden into management. Many investment professionals do the CFA first and consider an MBA later for a pivot.