Earn a Finance Certificate Online
- $627 per credit for 21 credits
- Develop key finance industry knowledge and skills
- Complete program in as few as 6 months
- 24/7 access to coursework
- Supplement your BS degree with a graduate certificate
- Upskill to help you kick off your career – or take it further
Online Graduate Finance Certificate Program Overview
Invest in your future and master essential concepts, theories and practices in finance and accounting by earning your Graduate Certificate in Finance online at Southern New Hampshire University.
Whether you're an experienced finance practitioner looking for professional development courses or someone interested in taking the first step toward a rewarding career in finance, the online finance certificate can help position you for success.
The Graduate Certificate in Finance online incorporates techniques and technology used by finance professionals today. With topics ranging from financial decision-making to capital investment, the finance certificate will help you build marketable, in-demand skills employers want to see.
Learn how to:
- Assess investment opportunities
- Manage an investment portfolio
- Use mathematical and statistical tools to help inform decision-making
Career Outlook
As a supplement to an undergraduate degree, a finance graduate certificate can help open doors to new career opportunities.
If you're pursuing an online MBA, or other Master of Science program, adding this certificate will provide a focused study in finance theory. This can help position you for management positions in the financial services industry, including jobs in corporations, insurance companies, banks, investment firms and government agencies.
Employment opportunities for financial analysts and managers are on the rise thanks to new financial regulations and technology.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of financial analysts is projected to grow 9% through 2031.1 Jobs for financial managers are expected to grow 17% through 2031 – much faster than the national average for all occupations.1
Plus, those with the Graduate Certificate in Finance will have completed courses that can be transferred to our online Master's in Finance program. This means, if you elect to continue on to a full master's degree, you'll already have completed about half the required coursework – saving you time and tuition.
Continuing your education to an MS in Finance could help position you for future success. The program curriculum is aligned with the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst®) Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK).
As Dr. Zuzana Buzzell, associate dean of business at SNHU, explains: "[The Chartered Financial Analyst® distinction] is one of the most coveted financial designations in the world."
Our MS in Finance is also one of only about 150 accredited programs around the world that counts toward eligibility for the AFA Accredited Financial Analyst® by Global Academy of Finance and Management. Upon completion of your master's, you can apply for this designation.
Start Your Journey Toward an Online Finance Certificate
Why SNHU For Your Online Finance Certificate
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.
Affordable
As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.
Prior coursework and work experience could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 12 credits from your previous institution. You could also earn college credit for previous work experience.
Respected
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
Network
At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.
93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Opportunities
- Customize your education to fit your schedule and your life
- Access courses 24/7 and learn from faculty working in the field
- Consider applying your credits toward a bachelor’s degree, or our BS-to-MS accelerated online degree pathway.
- Enjoy being a part of one of the biggest and most vibrant alumni associations in the country
Admission Requirements
Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:
- Completed free application
- Undergraduate transcripts, which we can retrieve for you by submitting a transcript request form
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 5 graduate terms.
How to Apply
If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:
- Complete free graduate application
- Submit undergraduate transcripts
- Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through application process
Courses & Curriculum
This 7-course (21-credit) certificate program is designed to help you focus your studies in finance. Whether you're looking to supplement your bachelor's with a finance specialization, or transition into an advanced degree program, these courses can help you get where you want to go.
Each course dives deeper into a different area of finance or accounting. Cost Accounting, for example, explores accounting systems that record, classify and report cost data. These systems are designed to help for-profit and non-profit organizations operate in a cost-effective manner.
Similarly, Corporate Financial Management takes a closer look at finance practices in relation to business operations. You'll specifically analyze investments, capital structure and re-structuring, budgeting, financial markets, and policy and portfolio management – all from a corporate lens.
Short-Term Financial Management, meanwhile, covers traditional working capital topics, including liquidity analysis and management, inventory, and receivables and payables management.
Capital Budgeting and Financing takes it a step further. This course begins by exploring advanced topics in capital investment, including determination of cash flows and capital budgeting. From there, you'll learn about topics of capital financing and structure, including financial leverage, financing sources, dividend policy, cost of capital and valuation.
Next, Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management identifies key techniques used to assess the value of securities and the methods used in the management of investment portfolios. Here, you'll learn more about stocks and bonds, including how they're valued, how to measure risk-return and diversification.
Finally, Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making surveys the mathematical, probabilistic and statistical tools you can use in the operation and management of industrial organizations.
Please note that foundational finance courses may be required, depending on your undergraduate coursework.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Finance |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate Finance | ||
| ACC 550 | Cost Accounting | This course provides a comprehensive study of the concepts, procedures, and practices of accounting systems that record, classify, and report cost data. These systems are designed to aid in the cost-effective operation of for-profit and non- profit organizations. This course focuses on cost behaviors, alternative cost systems, and accounting tools for planning and control. Additional topics studied would include relevant cost analysis for management decisions, cost/ revenue allocation methods, inventory management, and transfer pricing. |
| FIN 550 | Corporate Financial Management | This course is a study of finance from a corporate perspective including investments, capital structure and re-structuring, budgeting, financial markets, policy, and portfolio management. Students will analyze a firm's opportunities and risk level within these categories to evaluate the impact on shareholder's value. |
| FIN 610 | Short-Term Financial Management | The course covers traditional working capital topics, including liquidity analysis and management, inventory, and receivables and payables management. Additional emphasis is given to core cash management, payment systems and banking relationships. Other topics include cash forecasting, short-term borrowing and risk management. |
| FIN 630 | Capital Budgeting & Financing | This course first addresses advanced topics in capital investment, including determination of cash flows, capital budgeting under risk, replacement decisions, and inflation and capital decisions. The second half of the course focuses on capital financing and structure and includes topics in financial leverage, financing sources, dividend policy, cost of capital and valuation. |
| FIN 640 | Investment Analysis & Portfolio Management | Students study the techniques used to assess the value of securities and the methods used in the management of investment portfolios. Stocks and bonds are discussed in terms of valuation, risk- return measurement, diversification and other aspects of portfolio theory. |
| QSO 510 | Quantitative Analysis for Decision Making | This is a survey of the mathematical, probabilistic and statistical tools available for assisting in the operation and management of industrial organizations. |
| Total Credits: 21 | ||
Minimum Hardware Requirements
|
Component Type |
PC (Windows OS) |
Apple (Mac OS) |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. |
Currently supported operating system from Apple. |
|
Memory (RAM) |
8GB or higher |
8GB or higher |
|
Hard Drive |
100GB or higher |
100GB or higher |
|
Antivirus Software |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
|
SNHU Purchase Programs |
||
|
Internet/ Bandwidth |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
Notes:
- Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.
- Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.
- Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government.
- Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.
Tuition & Fees
At SNHU, we’re committed to making education more accessible, by making it more affordable.
Beyond low tuition rates, we help our students save through transfer credits, credit for prior learning, grants and scholarships, tuition assistance and more. U.S. service members, both full and part time, as well as the spouses of those on active duty are also eligible for a 25% tuition discount.
This certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students seeking alternatives to federal financial aid can explore tuition assistance, grants and scholarships, as well as private loans. To learn more about private loans, visit our Funding Your Education with Student Loans page.
| Online Graduate Programs | Per Course | Per Credit Hour | Annual Cost for 15 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Certificates | $1,881 | $627 | $9,405 |
|
Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* |
$1,410 | $470 | $7,050 |
Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.
*Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.
Additional Costs:
No Application Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which certificate is best for finance?
The best certificate in finance is the one that best fits your goals. Here are a few reasons to consider the graduate certificate in finance from SNHU:
Affordability. Ours are some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. This is part of our commitment to make college more accessible by keeping it affordable.
Our Graduate Certificate in Finance is $627 per credit. With 21 credits required to complete the program, this totals $13,167 in tuition.
Flexibility. Our online format means you can access courses anytime you want. You could complete your program either part time (1 class per term) or full time (2 classes per term), giving you the option to progress at a pace that works for you.
We also offer multiple graduate and undergraduate term starts per year. This means you can move quickly from one term to the next, or take classes intermittently – whichever fits best with your schedule.
Credibility. We are a private, nonprofit, accredited university – and, according to many, a leader in online education. Since 1932, we've made student success our mission. From our humble beginnings as a business and accounting school, to our now 200+ innovative online programs, that legacy lives on today.
We're also regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). This distinction ensures that we meet the quality standards set forth by a trusted authority in higher education.
Transferability. One of the most attractive benefits of the Graduate Certificate in Finance is that all of its 21 credits can be transferred into our 36-credit MS in Finance program.
That means, when you've earned your graduate certificate, you've already made it about halfway to earning you master's. And taking that next step could be a smart career move.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a master's degree reportedly earned a median weekly wage of $1,574; By comparison, individuals with a bachelor's earned $1,334.1 The BLS also found that higher educational attainment was linked to lower unemployment rates in 2021.1
Community. You might think that going to school online means you lose the experience of making new connections – but that's not the case at SNHU. When you enroll in our online degree programs, you can access one of the largest student and alumni networks in the world. Our graduates have found success all around the globe, and their experiences can help guide you in deciding your own career path.
Is an online certificate worth anything?
We believe that education from a respected institution is always worth the work. Here are a few ways an online Graduate Certificate in Finance can help position you for success:
- First, it can help you adapt to a changing work environment. According to a 2018 survey by the World Economic Forum, several emerging trends will likely impact business in the coming years, including increasing adoption of new technology, advances in mobile internet and expansion of education.2 The courses in our graduate certificate in finance are specifically designed to help you stay abreast of current industry trends – so you can feel confident that you'll have what it takes to succeed in today's workforce.
- Second, it can validate what you already know. Let's say, for example, you work with the same employer for years. Over time, you evolve into a financial role, but never earn a formal degree along the way. This can present quite a challenge when you're trying to "sell" your skills to a new employer, but with a specialized graduate certificate, you'll have a credential you can use to back up your skills.
Next, a graduate certificate can help you demonstrate growth to your current organization. As our own Clare Greenlaw, associate dean at SNHU, points out, a graduate certificate can help “signal your readiness for promotion." It shows your employer that you're not only ready and willing to take on new responsibilities, but that you've also gained the knowledge needed to shine in a more advanced role.
- Last, but not least, this certificate program can help jumpstart your master's degree. Some learners opt to start with a graduate certificate, because it can serve as a "trial run" for an advanced degree. For a lower cost and time investment, you can figure out if the program is right for you, and potentially move on to a master's. The courses you take in the Graduate Certificate in Finance are also required in our MS in Finance program. You may also consider exploring the MBA in Finance or MS in Accounting Finance.
What can you do with a certificate in finance?
You can use a certificate in finance in a variety of ways.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, entry-level education for occupations like financial analysts or financial managers is a bachelor's.1 That said, this certificate can help you build upon your undergraduate degree to pursue roles in the financial services industry. You'll be prepared for a variety of different environments, including corporations, insurance companies, banks, investment firms and government agencies.
If you've done the work to earn your bachelor's in finance, this Graduate Certificate in Finance can help you continue the path toward an advanced degree.
On the other hand, if you've earned your bachelor's in an area outside of finance, but want to widen your skillset, this certificate can help you build those skills. Upon completion, you'll be able to show employers that your talents are endorsed by a reputable university.
What's the difference between a finance graduate certificate and a master's degree in finance?
While a finance graduate certificate and a master's degree in finance may share many of the same courses and cover much of the same material, it is important to note some key differences between the two.
Specifically, we'll explore the time it takes to complete the program, overall cost and depth of skills.
Time to complete
Our Graduate Certificate in Finance requires 21 credits, or 7 total courses. You can begin your program during any of our 5 graduate term starts. This means you can earn your certificate in just a little over a year – even as a part-time student. If you opt to study full time, you could even finish your program in just a few months.
By comparison, the MS in Finance requires 36 credits, or 12 courses. Typically, this means it will take about 2 years to complete. However, if you opt to study as a full-time student, you can potentially finish your program in as few as 15 months.
Cost of program
At SNHU, we proudly offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.
The rate we offer for all graduate programs is $627 per credit. Of course, that means the 21-credit graduate certificate in finance and the 36-credit MS in Finance do vary in overall cost.
Tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Finance is $13,167; for the MS in Finance, the total would be $22,572.
Depth of skills
Both the finance graduate certificate and the MS in Finance will help you gain skills you can apply in various professional settings.
You'll learn about cost accounting, corporate and short-term financial management, capital budgeting, portfolio management and quantitative analysis for decision making.
That said, the MS in Finance does dive a little bit deeper into areas like managerial economics, capital markets, financial modeling, international corporate finance and more.
The MS in Finance also requires a capstone course, a culminating experience that challenges you to synthesize and demonstrate mastery of your coursework. This intensive work is precisely why many employers value a master's – it indicates a level of commitment and skill that is crucial to the success of any business.
University Accreditation
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
This certificate is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.
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References
Sources & Citations (1, 2)
1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm (viewed Nov. 1, 2022)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 1, 2022)
- https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm (viewed Nov. 1, 2022)
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
2World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2018 [PDF], on the internet, at http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2018.pdf (viewed Sept. 9, 2020).