Financial Planning Universities and Colleges in the U.S.

Financial planners help their clients meet financial goals by ensuring that their investment portfolio is diverse and healthy. Some financial planners own their own business, while others work for a financial advisory firm. Typically, a financial planner holds a bachelor's or master's degree in personal financial planning, business, finance or a related area.

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How to Choose a Financial Planning University or College

Financial planners work with clients to help them identify pressing financial issues and offer suggestions for improvement in order to meet both short- and long-term goals. An undergraduate degree in financial planning, economics or accounting is the minimum educational requirement for pursuing a career in this field.

To choose an undergraduate school, prospective students should first decide which area of financial planning is of interest to them. Universities and colleges that are highly ranked for programs in the field a student wishes to study may gain stronger consideration from aspiring financial planners when choosing a school. In addition to majors directly applicable to financial planning, relevant fields of study include mathematics, law and business administration. These areas are commonly accepted for entry into the field because of the rarity of financial planning undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the U.S.

Those who already hold a bachelor's degree in an area unrelated to financial planning may wish to pursue a dedicated master's degree. This may help graduates increase their chances of employment as well as overall career success. Students enrolled in a graduate-level financial planning degree program may take courses such as family financial counseling, personal finance, estate planning, consumer credit and technological applications for financial planning.

An advanced degree may be important to those who wish to work independently upon graduation, as clients may regard this credential as a sign of credibility in the field, whereas those employed by a company may use their firm's reputation to that end. Therefore, individuals should have an idea of how they'd like to eventually apply their skills when choosing an educational path or a school for financial planning.

Prospective students should also take into account if their program of interest offers an internship with a financial planning firm. An internship can greatly improve a graduate's chance of securing employment. At the very least, a company that participates in an internship program will provide a letter of reference for students who have exceeded expectations while completing their internship. Similarly, universities and colleges with opportunities for students to manage real portfolios or graduate with demonstrable experience may be preferred by those seeking a career in financial planning.

Largest Universities and Colleges with Financial Planning Programs by Student Population

College/University	Student Population	Institution Type
University of North Texas	34,830	4-year, Public
Brigham Young University	34,244	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Excelsior College	33,453	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Boston University	31,766	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Texas Tech University	28,422	4-year, Public
Georgia State University	28,229	4-year, Public
Central Michigan University	27,225	4-year, Public
Western Michigan University	24,818	4-year, Public
University of Akron	24,119	4-year, Public
Oklahoma State University	22,995	4-year, Public
Baylor University	14,541	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Pace University-New York	12,704	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Southern Methodist University	10,965	4-year, Private not-for-profit
University of St Thomas	10,963	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Suffolk University	9,434	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Northern Michigan University	9,347	4-year, Public
University of San Francisco	8,750	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Saint Joseph's University	7,900	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Baker College Center for Graduate Studies	6,008	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Bentley University	5,693	4-year, Private not-for-profit