Finance

The world of finance is fascinating and a non-stop global force — every business operation involves a financial decision

Available in CorvallisAvailable as a majorAvailable as a minorAvailable online

Overview

Finance

Finance is harnessing the power of money to make things happen. Effective financing enables life-saving research, ground-breaking engineering, and building of infrastructure on which communities and nations depend. On a more personal scale, financial planning and markets enable home ownership, entrepreneurial successes, and comfortable retirements.

Your career in finance begins with acquiring skills that set you apart from most working professionals. You thrive in that career based on the trust you earn from the people around you and the improvement you bring to their lives. Ultimately your career can take you just about anywhere. Pursuing corporate finance might lead you to become an analyst or executive at a multinational corporation or a key member of a start-up venture. Pursuing wealth management might lead you to financial planning, asset management, or insurance, either as part of a large firm or as a business owner. You might also pursue commercial banking, investment banking, or management consulting.

The world continues to need finance professionals and, in many cases, to compensate them well. If you have an analytical mind, determination, and the ability to communicate complex ideas with precision, consider studying finance.

Finance is a major program of study offered in Corvallis and online through Ecampus. It is also offered as a minor.

Options:

Once you enroll in the finance program, you can select an area of focus from the following options:

The Dean’s Academy is an academic forum for high-achieving first-year students, transfer students, and current undergraduate students who wish to maximize the educational and experiential aspects of their college experience. Invitation to this option is restricted to those who meet eligibility requirements.

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This area of study prepares you for management positions and exciting international careers at multinational firms, global financial service organizations and international centers of trade.

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28+

degrees and areas of focus

85% Job placement rate

of classes have fewer than 50 students

450

companies recruit our students each year

Finance Opportunities

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Sydney, Australia: University of Technology Sydney

Vienna, Austria: Vienna University of Economics & Business

Santiago, Chile: Universidad de Chile, Facultad Economia y Negocios

Explore study abroad opportunities >

Student organizations and clubs

Associated Clubs

Beta Alpha Psi

Finance Club

Investment Group

See all clubs >

Scholarship

Scholarships

Chevron International Experience Scholarship

David M. Gazeley Scholarship

McNeal Family Accounting Scholarship

Pattee Family Accounting Scholarship

See all scholarship opportunities >

Careers

Possible Careers

Budget Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Planner

Investor Relations Associate

Advantage Accelerator — part of our innovation network

The OSU Advantage Accelerator helps move innovative and entrepreneurial ideas through all phases of the startup process — and it is a great place for internships for finance students.

Advantage Accelerator student interns work directly with innovators and entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to explore markets, develop products and obtain customers.

The OSU Advantage Accelerator is part of the larger innovation and entrepreneurial network at OSU and throughout Oregon. They work closely with the College of Business, InnovationX and many other organizations to build and support a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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‘The Terminator’ among the angels

The Terminator is an Honors College graduate, a veteran Oregon State Investment Group officer and health care sector analyst, a 2018 outstanding senior in Finance, and a double major in International Finance and Mathematical Economics.

When the seasoned investors in the room grew quiet, she was the one — a teenager at the time — who spoke her mind against funding a company and moved the group toward a better investment.

“I learned so much through the Accelerator and found a passion for the startup space,” Marzi said. “I really enjoyed researching companies and markets and helping entrepreneurs make meaningful decisions to find success in their ideas.”

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"

Follow the same patterns of extracurricular activities that you develop here as you progress on your career path.

Sean Edwards, ‘01
Bank of America SVP - Credit Products Manager

Where our graduates work

Graduates from the college's finance program have become financial analysts, business process analysts, quality control managers, auditors, consultants, teachers, personal financial planners and more.

  • Adecco
  • Cambia
  • Cambia Health Solutions
  • Compucom
  • Daimler
  • Dell
  • Deloitte
  • Huron Health Care
  • Intel
  • Nike
  • Odom
  • Portland General Electric
  • Providence Health Services
  • Puppet Labs
  • Salesforce
  • Schnitzer
  • The Standard
  • Umpqua Bank

Here's why you should be a College of Business student

A success plan for life

Professional, personal and leadership skills form the backbone of successful careers. Blueprint, our award-winning series of classes, is focused on professional and leadership development and financial literacy. With Blueprint, you’re on track to graduate on time, with the skills and network to choose your career, and the savvy to make the big decisions at the right time.

We're not just business; we're family

Our first-year students live in one of our business-themed residence halls. This learning-focused, student-first, open-door culture makes the big Oregon State campus feel like the supportive place it is – and feel a lot smaller and easier to navigate than you might think.

We’re the only college at OSU that has a dedicated Career Success Center for our students. We help you find an internship, write a resume and find a job.

Ranked and accredited

Oregon State is ranked in the top five for online education with U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business overall, as well as our accounting program, is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for degree programs in business and accounting.

Discover the OSU difference