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Finance Programs and Careers in North Dakota

In North Dakota, students can choose from a variety of schools that offer finance degrees at the bachelor’s level. Some programs are designed for full-time students while others are part-time programs, including fully-online degrees ideal for working professionals. After graduation, those with finance degrees may find opportunities to work in the state in financial positions or as business owners. Options for business-related study at the master’s level are limited in North Dakota. Students interested in a master’s in finance may want to explore schools in nearby states such as Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Read on below to find out more details about different finance programs, curricula, and career possibilities in North Dakota.

Quick Facts

  • There are 6 colleges and universities with finance degree programs in North Dakota.1
  • No schools offer a certificate in finance.1
  • No schools offer an associate’s degree in finance.1
  • 6 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in finance.1
  • No schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in finance.1
  • No schools ranked in Forbes’ Best Business Schools 2019.2
  • No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Business and Finance Majors 2020.3
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Finance Programs 2021.4
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Finance Programs 2021.5

For not-for-profit colleges and universities with finance degree programs.

Table of Contents

North Dakota Finance Program Comparison

We have developed the following table to help you compare all of the finance programs in North Dakota from not-for-profit schools that offer programs with a concentration in finance. In addition to allowing you to compare the business school’s accreditation, finance degrees that appear in bold are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Programs, those that have been recognized for curricula aligned to preparing for the CFA Exam.

SchoolAccreditationFinance Degree(s)Acceptance Rate6Grad Rate1Online Options?Median Debt7Net Price1
Dickinson State UniversityIACBEBBA-Finance;
BS-Finance
N.Av.41%Yes$9,745$10,817
Minot State UniversityIACBEBS-Finance;
Concentration-Personal Finance;
Minor-Finance
N.Av.45%$12,000$11,635
North Dakota State College of ScienceBS-FinanceN.Av.46%$8,750$10,233
North Dakota State UniversityAACSBBS-Finance100%60%$15,000$16,330
University of MaryIACBEBA-Financial Services and Banking;
BS-Financial Services and Banking
N.Av.60%$14,715$17,903
University of North DakotaAACSBBBA-FinanceN.Av.61%$16,850$15,654

  • — indicates none.
  • N.Av. indicates no data available.

Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in North Dakota

Georgetown CEW’s ROI Ranking by Long-Term Net Present Value 2019

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) has compared 4,500 colleges and universities on graduates’ return on investment (ROI). We use their net present value (NPV) ranking, which is the current dollar value of earning a four-year degree from the school over a 40-year horizon.

  • University of North Dakota (#441; $1,040,000)
  • North Dakota State College of Science (#490; $1,024,000)
  • North Dakota State University (#490; $1,024,000)
  • University of Mary (#514; $1,017,000)
  • Dickinson State University (#993; $901,000)
  • Minot State University (#1,042; $892,000)7

Select Schools in North Dakota with Finance Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

North Dakota State University

The North Dakota State University College of Business offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance. The program is composed of 120 credit hours with 33 credit hours related to the Finance major. Finance courses include Principles of Finance; Investment Analysis and Management; Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives; Management of Financial Institutions; International Finance; Corporate Finance; and Strategic Management (Capstone). Students must also complete a minimum of 21 credit hours of Finance major electives. The finance program is approved as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Program, which positions students for the CFA exam. Students will learn the fundamental skills of finance leadership and how to utilize tools to make informed financial decisions within institutions, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The Finance major prepares graduates for careers in corporate finance and financial service industries.

University of Mary

At the University of Mary (UM) Gary Tharaldson School of Business students can earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Financial Services and Banking. The 124-credit hour degree can be completed in four years. Select courses include Money and Banking; Financial Management; Insurance; Investments; Behavioral Finance; Advanced Spreadsheets; Business Law; and Financial Planning Capstone. Students are required to complete either an internship or take an Experiential Development course. The Experiential Development course will provide students the opportunity to complete a hands-on project, which will be approved by their advisor and dean prior to enrollment in the course. Students also have the option to join the University of Mary Investment Club (UMIC) which manages a large stock portfolio. Participation in UMIC can result in credit hours awarded towards the degree. Students must complete all courses required for the Financial Services and Banking major with a grade “C” or higher (including accepted transfer credits) with an overall cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher for graduation.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Dickinson State University

The Dickinson State University (DSU) College of Business and Entrepreneurship offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance entirely online. Students will learn to apply math, accounting, finance, and fundamental business skills towards managing monetary growth within organizations or for independent clients. Additionally, students will learn to apply financial concepts, theories, and practices involved with international business. The 117-credit hour program includes general education courses, pre-major courses, business core, finance major courses, and electives. Finance major courses include Financial Statement Analysis; Intermediate Accounting; Income Tax; Business Valuation; Financial Institutions and Markets; Investments; Corporate Finance; and International Finance. A GPA of 2.25 or higher is required for graduation. Graduates from DSU have found careers in commercial banking, financial planning, investment banking, money managing, and insurance and real estate.

North Dakota Finance Careers and Salary Outlook

North Dakota is home to a large agricultural sector, and energy, oil, and coal companies may offer financial and accounting positions. Microsoft and Amazon have large centers in the state, and many local and statewide healthcare companies such as Noridian Healthcare Solutions, Sanford Health, and Altru Health System have headquarters in the state as well. North Dakota is home to the only state-owned bank in the country, the Bank of North Dakota, as well as numerous local and regional banks and financial institutions. Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks are the major metropolitan areas in the state. Graduates with finance degrees may have an advantage in finding a position at one of the many companies based in North Dakota.

Personal financial advisor positions are projected to grow in North Dakota by 13% through 2028, which is much faster than the national rate of 7%.8 Personal financial advisors earn an average annual salary of $85,670 in North Dakota, which is lower than the national average of $119,290.9,10 Financial analysts in the state earn an average of $88,270 annually, and financial analyst positions in North Dakota are projected to grow at 13% through 2028, nearly double the national projected rate of 6.2%.8,9,11 Financial examiners in the state earn an average of $77,360, and these positions are projected to grow by 5.6% through 2028 in North Dakota.8,12 Financial manager positions in the state are projected to grow 20.8% through 2028; these professionals earn an average of $133,980 annually.8,13

North Dakota Finance Salary Information

OccupationNumber Employed9Average Salary9
Business and Financial Operations Occupations17,790$67,610
Financial and Investment Analysts and Other Specialists480$88,270
Financial Examiners220$77,360
Financial Managers1,450$133,980
Loan Officers1,430$79,790
Personal Financial Advisors370$85,670

Finance Associations in North Dakota

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Forbes Best Business Schools 2019: https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Undergraduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-finance
5. US News & World Report Best Graduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/finance-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Business Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/
8. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, North Dakota: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nd.htm
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Personal Financial Advisors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132052.htm
11.Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes132098.htm
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Examiners: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132061.htm
13. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Managers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm