Ready to discover how money moves and grows? Finance teaches you how to build wealth, manage risk, and make smart decisions for the future.

Major in Finance

What is finance?

Finance is the study of money — how it’s earned, saved, invested, and used. When you major in finance at LSU, you’ll learn how individuals and businesses make financial decisions, manage money, determine financial risk, and grow wealth. From budgeting and cash flow to asset allocation and financial technology, a finance degree opens doors to finance jobs in banking, corporate finance, investment management, insurance, and more. A career in finance is perfect for anyone who enjoys problem solving, data, and helping others make smart money moves.

Program Website

Degree Details

Admissions Info

Program Highlights

Simulated Training Lab Train like a pro in our Securities Markets Analysis Research and Trading (SMART) Lab, a real-world trading floor with Bloomberg terminals, analytics tools, and portfolio-building software.

Real Investment Experience Manage the Tiger Fund, a student-run portfolio investing in top U.S. stocks, to gain real-world finance skills in analysis, financial research, and teamwork while aiming to beat the market's return.

Finance Apprenticeship Prepare for careers in finance through the Venture Capital Apprenticeship Program (VCAP). Build financial models, create fundraising decks, and conduct real market research for startup companies.

Wall Street Training Gain a competitive edge with the Wall Street Prep Student Passport built directly into your finance classes. Learn advanced Microsoft Excel skills, attain corporate finance certifications, and more.

What You Can Do

An LSU degree opens doors to a wide range of career paths and professional opportunities. With a strong academic foundation, real-world learning, and support from a powerful alumni network, you’ll graduate prepared for success in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re planning to work in a corporate setting, nonprofit organization, government agency, creative industry, or research lab, LSU equips you with the in-demand skills and hands-on experience employers value most.

Potential Careers

Asset Management
Commercial Banking
Corporate Finance
Financial Analyst or Advising
Investment Banking or Consulting
Real Estate
Valuation & Advisory
Appraisers

Workplace Settings

Banks/Financial Institution
Consulting Firm
Real Estate Development Firm
Energy Company
Private Equity Company
Property Management Company
Real Estate Investment Trust
State Retirement System
Wealth Management Firm

$61,000

Average alumni finance salary 5 years after graduation

What Finance Looks like

What I Love About My Major

Eli Shortess, Ourso Outstanding Eight 2025

Karly Robledo, Ourso Outstanding Eight 2025

Jacob Hoffpauir, Ourso Outstanding Eight 2024

Building Skills

Master Asset Management Learn to grow wealth with portfolio strategy, equity analysis, and smart investing.

Real Estate Expertise Learn how to develop, buy, sell, and manage property, as well as investment and leasing.

Corporate Finance & Investment Use financial modeling to plan budgets, manage debt, evaluate mergers and acquisitions.

Commercial Banking Assess risk of credit lines using knowledge of financial markets and institutions.

The Department of Finance helps students expand learning outside the classroom. Through Asset Management Academy and undergraduate research with finance faculty, I applied classroom learning to interesting projects, interacted with LSU’s vast network, and secured a valuable internship. I am grateful for the experience. Jared Cyprian
BS Finance '22
Teacher/Coach, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

What I love most about finance is how dynamic the area of study is. You get exposed to various industries and skills for many different careers, whether investment banking, real estate consulting, or starting your own business.” Eli Shortess
BS Finance '25
Investment Banking Analyst, Truist

[Getting involved] really opens up a wide variety of networks and makes this large campus kind of have a small feel. It also provides an opportunity to meet peers and like-minded individuals who have similarly aligned goals. Jacob Hoffpauir
BS Economics & BS Finance '25

Advance your Career

Post-graduate education

LSU offers competitively ranked post-graduate programs designed to help you innovate and lead in your field. Engage in advanced coursework, contribute to impactful research, and learn from expert faculty who are solving real-world challenges across Louisiana and beyond. Whether you're looking to deepen your expertise, pivot into a new industry, or accelerate your career, LSU’s graduate programs open the door to a world of opportunity.

Master of Finance Master of Financial Economics PhD Finance Flores MBA Program

Related Majors

Accounting

International Trade & Finance

General Business

Mathematics

Apply Today!