UNDERGRADUATE
Finance
Understand how capital moves through markets and businesses. Compete in the fast-moving world of investing, corporate finance, and financial services.
Turn Market Insight Into Action
Every major business decision involves a financial question. At Penn State Smeal College of Business, you'll build the analytical foundation to answer it with a degree in Finance by evaluating investments, managing risk, and guiding the financial strategy that organizations depend on.
Through coursework, leadership opportunities, and hands-on business experience, you’ll learn to:
Analyze how businesses raise capital and finance growth
Evaluate investments by balancing risk and return
Apply financial models and market analysis to capital allocation decisions.
Communicate financial insights that support business and investment decisions
What You'll Study
Featured Courses
Data Science & AI in Finance: Use Python, SQL, ML, and generative AI to analyze financial data and solve problems.
Finance & Technology: Explore FinTech, value new technologies, and pitch an application in a competition.
Advanced Financial Management: Apply financial principles to major investment and financing decisions.
What You Can Do with a Finance Degree
Investment Analysts & Portfolio Managers
Evaluate securities, manage portfolios, and guide investment decisions for firms, funds, and individual clients. Median salary: $101,910
Corporate Financial Managers
Guide budgeting, forecasting, capital investments, and financial strategy within organizations across nearly every industry. Median salary: $161,700
Individual Financial Advisors & Wealth Managers
Help individuals and families plan for retirement, manage investments, and achieve long-term financial goals. Median salary: $102,140
87%
Placement Rate
$78,312
Average Starting Salary
#21
Accounting & Finance
QS World University Rankings
Market Experience Before You Graduate
Nittany Lion Fund
Manage over twenty millions of dollars in real investor capital as part of a student-run fund that has regularly outperformed the S&P 500. Graduating fourth-year students who participate achieve a 95% job placement rate.
Rogers Family Trading Room
Apply investment concepts using one of 50+ professional workstations equipped with the same software used on real trading floors.
Leveraged Lion Capital
Research, analyze, and pitch speculative-grade debt through the nation's first student-run syndicated loan and high-yield bond portfolio, managing a $125 million simulated investment fund.
Corporate Finance Boot Camp
Develop advanced financial modeling, valuation, and professional skills through a selective program connecting students with corporate finance leaders, alumni, and recruiters.
CFA Affiliation
As a CFA Institute University Affiliate, Penn State Smeal builds CFA exam content directly into your coursework, giving you a head start on one of the most recognized credentials in investment management.
Finance Student Success in Action
Sanchita Bhusari, Finance
Meet Sanchita Bhusari
Finance major Sanchita Bhusari made the most of her Penn State Smeal experience by combining leadership, hands-on investing, and professional opportunities.
As president of the Nittany Lion Fund and a former director of the Penn State Investment Association, she leveraged those experiences into a summer internship—and ultimately a full-time role—with Citigroup's Quantitative Analysis Division.
Is Finance Right for You?
Finance Is a Strong Fit If You:
Follow financial markets and wonder what drives them
Enjoy weighing risk against potential reward
Like solving complex problems using data and analysis
Stay calm and think clearly under pressure
Want to build a career in banking, asset management, investment research, or corporate finance
Apply to Smeal
Ready to manage real capital, build real credentials, and pursue careers at firms like Goldman Sachs and Vanguard?
Connect With Us
Penn State Undergraduate Admissions
Smeal College of BusinessSmeal Undergraduate Advising
Finance Department
More Information: Finance Degree
Learn how Penn State Finance graduates have built careers with leading firms across the financial services industry.
Get involved with finance-focused groups that extend learning beyond the classroom through investment experience, professional development, and exposure to different areas of the field.
Asset Management Group
while applying investment analysis, risk management, and portfolio strategy.Penn State Finance Society
Learn about finance careers, markets, and financial modeling through weekly meetings, guest speakers, workshops, and networking events.FinTech Group
Explore the intersection of finance, innovation, and technology throughPenn State Wealth Management Association (PSWMA)
Learn about portfolio construction, client communication, and wealth management practices through programming, peer engagement, and guest speakers from the field.
Students interested in advanced study can continue their education through Penn State's Master of Finance (MFin) program. Explore opportunities to deepen your expertise in investments, corporate finance, valuation, and financial analysis.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping investment research, portfolio management, risk analysis, fraud detection, and financial forecasting.
As firms adopt AI-powered analytical tools, finance professionals who can combine technical expertise with AI-driven insights will be well positioned to support investment and business decisions. At Penn State Smeal, that's what a Finance degree prepares you to do.