Saint Louis University

What you'll study

This programme blends foundational business courses with focused finance and financial planning topics. Early years typically cover core subjects such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, financial and managerial accounting, business statistics, management and business law to build a broad commercial understanding.

Finance-specific coursework commonly includes:

• Corporate Finance — capital budgeting, capital structure, working capital management and corporate valuation.
• Investments and Portfolio Management — asset pricing, portfolio theory, equity and fixed-income analysis and portfolio construction.
• Financial Markets and Institutions — structure and function of markets, trading mechanics and regulatory environment.
• Risk Management and Derivatives — hedging techniques, options, futures and other derivatives instruments.
• Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling — interpreting financial reports, forecasting and spreadsheet-based modelling.
• Personal Financial Planning and Wealth Management — retirement planning, taxation considerations, estate planning and client advisory skills (often aligned with CFP topics).
• International Finance — foreign exchange, multinational capital budgeting and cross-border financial management.

Students frequently complete a senior capstone, practicum or internship and have access to experiential resources such as Bloomberg terminals, student investment funds and opportunities to work on real client projects. Electives and concentrations allow tailoring toward investment management, commercial banking, financial planning or corporate finance.

Entry requirements

Successful applicants will normally hold a recognised secondary school diploma with a strong academic record and evidence of quantitative ability. Typical preparation includes coursework in algebra and precalculus; background in economics, statistics or accounting is advantageous.

Admissions will consider the overall application including high school grades, a personal statement, and recommendations. Standardised test submissions may be optional or considered where provided—consult the university admissions pages for current policy. Transfer applicants should submit college transcripts and meet any prerequisite credit requirements.

For international applicants, evidence of English language proficiency and credential evaluation are required in line with university regulations.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of finance roles across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Common entry-level positions include financial analyst, investment analyst, commercial banking analyst, treasury analyst, credit analyst and financial planner/advisor. With specialised electives or internships graduates can move into wealth management, asset management, corporate finance, risk management, or financial consulting.

Many students use the degree as preparation for professional designations and further study: typical pathways include the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) programmes, or postgraduate degrees such as an MS in Finance or an MBA. The programme’s emphasis on experiential learning and employer connections supports placement into internships and graduate roles in financial services, corporate finance departments and fintech firms.

Why study at Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University offers finance students a combination of a Jesuit liberal arts education and a professionally focused business curriculum through the Chaifetz School of Business. The university emphasises ethical decision-making, leadership and community engagement alongside technical skills.

Students benefit from small-class interaction with faculty who have academic and industry experience, access to industry-standard tools and labs, and active student organisations and investment clubs that provide practical experience. Located in a metropolitan business community, the university has relationships with regional banks, firms and wealth managers that support internship and networking opportunities. Career services, alumni mentoring and targeted preparation for professional exams are integrated into the student experience to help graduates move into finance careers or further study.