Finance Major

The finance program provides a strong foundation in how financial decisions are made within organizations and financial markets. Through hands-on, data-driven learning, you’ll build the analytical and quantitative skills to evaluate investments, assess business value, forecast financial performance and make informed financial decisions. By combining financial theory with real-world application, the program prepares you to succeed in today’s financial markets and adapt to tomorrow’s opportunities.

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Projected employment growth for financial analyst occupations from 2024 to 2034

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

$75,524

Average starting salary for finance majors

Class of 2025

Why Major in Finance at Drexel LeBow?

At Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, you’ll build the technical expertise and professional judgment needed to analyze financial information, communicate insights effectively and make ethical decisions with confidence.

Our faculty bring decades of industry and academic experience into the classroom, helping students understand how financial markets continue to evolve. Their expertise keeps the curriculum current while connecting classroom concepts to today’s business environment.

Drexel LeBow’s BSBA in Finance:

Builds expertise in financial decision-making, including valuation, capital allocation, risk and return, investment analysis and financial forecasting.
Provides applied, data-driven learning through valuation projects, forecasting exercises, case studies and team-based analysis using financial models and market data.
Develops the quantitative, analytical and communication skills employers value across corporate finance, investment banking, wealth management, consulting and related fields.
Prepares students for professional credentials such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification while providing a strong foundation for graduate study.

Inside the Finance Major Curriculum

Finance majors learn how financial decisions are made within organizations and financial markets while developing the quantitative and analytical skills to evaluate investments, forecast financial performance and assess business value.

As part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program,, Drexel LeBow’s BSBA in Finance incorporates at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK). The curriculum also emphasizes the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, providing a strong foundation for students pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation, one of the investment industry’s most respected credentials.

Coursework combines financial theory with practical application through valuation projects, investment analysis, forecasting exercises and case-based problem solving. Throughout the curriculum, you’ll use analytical tools, financial models and market data similar to those used by finance professionals.

Students can tailor their degree to match their interests by choosing coursework in areas such as:

Financial markets
Portfolio management
Mergers and acquisitions
Real estate
Wealth management

Review our degree course requirements
View the plan of study in the Drexel Catalog

Course Highlights Include

FIN 3339: Fintech: This course explores the rapidly growing field of financial technology and its impact on traditional financial services. Students examine key innovations including cryptocurrencies, peer-to-peer lending, crowdfunding, initial coin offerings, and technology-driven alternatives to personal advising and trading. Each topic is studied in comparison to its traditional counterpart, highlighting the gaps that enabled innovation and the technological advances that support it. Emphasis is placed on evaluating both the benefits and limitations of fintech solutions, with attention to their role in reshaping markets, financial intermediation, and the delivery of financial services.
FIN 3341: Applied Portfolio Management: This course provides hands-on experience in the active management of an equity portfolio. Students apply sector and stock valuation techniques to real-world investment decisions while gaining proficiency with professional data sources. Key topics include interpreting economic data releases, analyzing corporate regulatory filings and earnings announcements, and compliance with an investment policy statement. Emphasis is placed on building stock valuation models, conducting sector analysis, and providing actionable recommendations. The course blends theory with practice, preparing students for careers in investment management, equity research, and related fields.
FIN 3345: Mergers & Acquisitions: This course examines the strategy, valuation, and execution of mergers and acquisitions, with attention to both corporate buyers and private equity investors. Students learn to analyze target firms, structure deals, and evaluate governance issues across the M&A process. Topics include deal financing, private targets, corporate restructuring, and transactions involving financially distressed firms. The course also explores cross-border mergers and strategic alliances, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of global deal-making. Emphasis is placed on integrating valuation tools with strategic and governance considerations to understand how M&A transactions create or destroy value.
FIN 3332: Investment Analysis: This course develops the tools and judgment needed to value firms and their securities. Students learn to analyze and forecast financial statements and assess risk. The course covers valuation using both multiples (e.g., EV/EBITDA, P/E) and discounted cash flow methods, including free cash flow estimation and cost of capital. Emphasis is placed on identifying assumptions, applying sensitivity analysis, and developing a disciplined framework for assessing key value drivers. Students gain practical skills in comparing firms, interpreting data, and making informed investment and valuation decisions.
FIN 3450: Personal Wealth Management: This course explores comprehensive wealth management strategies designed for high-net-worth individuals and families. It covers investment decision-making and financial planning across multiple asset classes. Students will learn how to assess investor objectives and constraints, and develop appropriate investment policy statements. The course also discuss the role of family offices and best practices for managing them. Using case studies and other experiential learning methods, students will prepare for careers as effective wealth managers.

Drexel Co-op and Experience

Through the Drexel Co-op program, students alternate classroom learning with full-time professional experience through University-approved employers. With plans of study that allow for up to three co-ops, you can gain as much as 18 months of practical experience while building professional networks, developing career clarity and applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings.

Up to 18 months of experience

Graduate with as much as 18 months of experience in the workplace

$22

Median co-op hourly pay for finance majors

45%

of co-op students received a full-time job offer from their co-op employer

LeBow Class of 2024

Our students have done their LeBow co-ops in a variety of organizations, both locally and around the world.

Past finance co-op placements include:

Beyond Co-op

Co-op is just one way to gain real-world experience at LeBow. Many students also expand their experience through consulting courses, case competitions, research projects, international residencies, industry events, alumni mentorship and other hands-on learning opportunities.

Many of these opportunities are made possible through the Dana and David Dornsife Office for Experiential Learning, where students work on real and simulated projects with industry partners. Partners have included organizations such as Unilever, the Philadelphia 76ers, Boeing, PwC, and nonprofit and governmental agencies.

Dragon Fund

The Dragon Fund gives select finance students the opportunity to manage a stock portfolio with actual investment dollars, not a hypothetical classroom portfolio. Students research companies, evaluate investment opportunities and make portfolio decisions while applying the valuation, financial analysis and market knowledge developed throughout the finance curriculum.

Many Dragon Fund participants have gone on to careers in investment management, private banking, wealth management and other areas of finance.

Howley Finance Academy

The Howley Finance Academy is a selective program for high-achieving LeBow undergraduates interested in careers in private equity, investment banking and private markets. Through specialized coursework, professional programming and engagement with industry leaders and alumni, students strengthen their quantitative skills, deepen their understanding of financial markets and gain practical experience that complements the finance curriculum.

The Academy prepares participants to compete for highly selective co-op, internship and full-time opportunities.

I knew I wanted to leave LeBow well-rounded and knowledgeable in every field of business, and co-op showed me which career path I wanted to take going forward.

Sydney McCloud ’19

Incoming Technology Consulting Analyst

SAP

What Can You Do With a Finance Degree?

Financial professionals help organizations make strategic decisions, evaluate opportunities and manage risk in an increasingly complex global marketplace.

Graduates pursue careers in:

Corporate finance
Private equity
Investment banking
Financial planning
Wealth management
Consulting
Related finance and investment fields

The program also provides strong preparation for professional credentials such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification, as well as graduate study in finance and related disciplines.

Common Questions About the Finance Major

What types of students are a good fit for the finance major?

Students who enjoy solving problems with data, thinking analytically and understanding how businesses and financial markets work often thrive in finance. The major is a strong fit for students who are interested in making strategic decisions, evaluating investments, managing risk and using financial information to solve real business challenges.

You don’t need to know exactly which finance career you want to pursue before you start. Throughout the program, you’ll build technical, analytical and communication skills while exploring areas such as corporate finance, investment banking, financial planning, wealth management and consulting through coursework, experiential learning and co-op experiences.

What technical skills and software will I learn as a finance major?

Use of commercial financial market software such as Bloomberg and FactSet
Financial forecasting and modeling
Risk assessment and scenario analysis
Equity research and portfolio management

What is the difference between studying finance, accounting and economics?

In some ways, finance is similar to accounting and economics. Finance focuses on how individuals and organizations raise, invest and manage money to create value. Students study financial markets, investments, corporate decision-making, risk management and wealth creation to support strategic business and personal financial decisions.

Accounting focuses on measuring, recording, and communicating financial information. Students learn how to prepare and analyze financial statements, ensure regulatory compliance and provide reliable information that supports business operations and decision-making.

Economics examines how individuals, businesses, and governments allocate scarce resources. Students analyze markets, incentives, public policy and global economic trends to understand how economic forces influence business decisions and society as a whole.

Take the Next Step

All undergraduate applications are processed through Drexel University’s central admissions portal. Have questions about applying to LeBow? Our undergraduate enrollment team is here to help.

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Tuition and Financial Aid

Find the information you need to plan for your education through Drexel Central. Review tuition and fees, estimate the cost of attendance, and explore financial aid resources, including scholarships, grants, loans and payment options.

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Life at LeBow

Drexel LeBow Undergraduate Student Organizations

BSBA Major in Finance

Why Major in Finance at Drexel LeBow?

Inside the Finance Major Curriculum