Finance Programs in Missouri

Finance Schools in Missouri

Total Finance Programs:26
Online Finance Programs:24
Admissions Requirements:Moderate
Average Tuition:$14,393
Average Scholarship Package:$7,255
Average Grant Amount:$8,276
Average Housing Cost:$4,565
Average Gender Ratio:45% Men / 54% Women
Average Student-to-Faculty Ratio:17:1

In Missouri, there are 26 schools that offer different degrees in finance. Within those 26 schools, 17 of them offer Associate’s degrees in finance. Students interested in a Bachelor’s degree in finance have 22 schools to choose from. You can earn a Master’s degree in finance from 16 Missouri schools. Five schools offer a PhD in finance.

The majority of Missouri finance schools are clustered around St. Louis and the west edge of the state. Average tuition is $14,393, partially because so many schools are in a metropolitan area. However, there are also many affordable degree options for students. Evangel University and Columbia University are the two most affordable finance schools in Missouri.

Educational Information:

Pursuing an Associate’s degree in finance in Missouri has many advantages. It is the quickest finance degree you can earn, taking only two years to matriculate. Tuition at schools that offer Associate’s degrees is also usually much lower than four-year colleges and universities. Associate’s degrees in finance, such as the one offered at East Central College, include courses in Principles of Marketing, Microeconomics, Financial Accounting I, and Introduction to Business. Many of these schools have credits that transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

A Bachelor’s degree offers the most flexibility in terms of potential careers. This degree takes about four years to complete. Different schools have different things to offer; Culver-Stockton College boasts a 98% job placement rate for finance students after graduation. Students can also travel to finance conferences, make investments using Culver-Stockton College’s endowment fund.

Lindenwood is one of many Bachelor’s degrees in finance that has a selection of concentrations for students to focus on. Students can choose to focus on Personal Financial Planning instead of a standard finance degree. Courses required at this level include Financial Institution Management, Estate Planning, and Corporate Finance.

A Master’s degree in finance requires a Bachelor’s degree in finance or a related field. When studied full-time, this degree takes about two years to complete. Students, such as those at Lindenwood University, take courses in Investments, Derivatives, International Finance, and Managerial Accounting.

Licensing Information:

Higher-level degrees often lead to careers with extra licensure and examination. The three main careers that require examination and licensure in Missouri are stockbrokers, financial planners, and investment advisors.

To work as a stockbroker in Missouri, you must be licensed with the Secretary of State’s Securities Division. Applicants have to take the Series 63 or Series 66 exam in addition to taking the Series 7 exam. Stockbrokers must take a training course two years after registration. They must then repeat the training course every three years.

Financial planners that sell life insurance and fixed annuities are registered with the Missouri Department of Insurance. Unlike many other states, Missouri does not require applicants to complete pre-licensing education. However, they must pass an examination and then complete 16 hours of ongoing education every two years.

Investment advisors in Missouri must take the Series 65 exam in order to become licensed. They can also take the Series 66 and Series 7 exam in place of the Series 65 exam. Licensure is done through the Secretary of State’s Securities Division.

Employment Information:

Many large investment firms are based in Missouri. Some of the largest investment firms in Missouri include Edward Jones, AXA Advisors, LPL Financial, and Stifel Nicolaus. Other large finance employers in Missouri include Security Finance Corporation, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Maverick Trading.

As of May 2020, finance professionals in Missouri earned the following average salaries:

  • Financial analysts: $89,090
  • Financial managers: $139,040
  • Personal financial advisors: $107,890

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s financial analysts is projected to increase by 4%, resulting in about 410 annual job openings during this ten-year period when combined with retirements and natural job turnover.

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s financial managers is projected to increase by 15.4%, resulting in about 820 annual job openings during this ten-year period when combined with retirements and natural job turnover.

Between 2018 and 2028, the number of jobs among the state’s personal financial advisors is projected to remain stagnant, resulting in about 520 annual job openings during this ten-year period when combined with retirements and natural job turnover.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market trends for financial analysts, financial managers, and personal financial advisors. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2021.

Job growth projections for financial and investment analysts, financial managers, personal financial advisors sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database and based on state-specific information (2018-2028)