Finance Programs and Careers in Kansas

Those interested in studying finance in Kansas can choose from many different types of programs and degrees. Kansas schools offer a variety of programs, from undergraduate certificates to doctoral programs. Schools across the state offer degrees with in-person, online, and full- and part-time formats. Finance graduates may find opportunities to work in a variety of related positions in Kansas as well as other states. This page provides a table of available finance programs, profiles of selected programs, and data on the employment of financial professionals in Kansas.

Quick Facts

• There are 16 colleges and universities with finance degree programs in Kansas.¹
• 6 schools offer a certificate in finance.¹
• No schools offer an associate’s degree in finance.¹
• 15 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in finance.¹
• 7 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

• Comparison of Finance Programs
• Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in Kansas
• Select Schools in Kansas with Finance Degrees
• Kansas Finance Careers and Salary Outlook
• Finance Associations in Kansas

Kansas Finance Program Comparison

We have developed the following table to help you compare all of the finance programs in Kansas 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.

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

Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in Kansas

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 Kansas (#520; $1,016,000)
• Kansas State University (#756; $951,00)
• Newman University (#832; $935,000)
• Wichita State University (#1,235; $856,000)
• Washburn University (#1,256; $853,000)
• Friends University (#1,337; $844,000)
• Ottawa University-Ottawa (#1,391; $837,000)
• Pittsburg State University (#1,417; $833,00)
• Tabor College (#1,551; $816,000)
• Fort Hays State University (#1,564; $814,000)

Select Schools in Kansas with Finance Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Benedictine College

Benedictine College offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance as a four-year, full-time program that can help students develop the tools necessary to discern risk in a portfolio and assess various capital sources. Completing the full bachelor’s program requires 128 credit hours, including general education classes and business classes. Ten business courses must be taken towards the Finance major, including Corporate Finance; International Finance; and Money and Banking. In addition to the 128 credits, BA in Finance students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, with a “C-” or better in all business courses. Admission to Benedictine College requires applicants to have a high school diploma or equivalent, earn a “C” or better in required college preparatory courses, and score at least an 18 on the ACT or 860 on the SAT. Business students in other majors may be interested in adding a Minor in Finance.

Pittsburg State University

The Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University (PSU) offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a Finance major that blends analytical and decision-making skills to prepare students to face a complex global financial environment. The 120-credit hour program is offered full-time and on-campus. In addition to general education requirements, the BBA in Finance curriculum consists of 42 credits of core business coursework, 18 hours of Finance major courses, 17 credits of electives, and a statistics course. Finance courses include options such as Investments; Advanced Business Finance; and Financial Institutions and Markets. Applicants must first enroll at PSU and then apply for entry into the Kelce College of Business. Admission to Kelce requires a minimum cumulative 2.25 GPA and the completion of prerequisite general education courses with a “C” or better. Freshman admission to PSU requires a high school GPA of at least 2.25 or a satisfactory ACT or SAT score.

Traditional Master’s Programs

Friends University

Friends University hosts a Professional Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance that can be completed in 15 months when taken full-time. The program is designed for working professionals and will develop students’ leadership and specialized finance skills. The general MBA program requires 30 credit hours to complete, with the Finance concentration adding three more credits. In addition to the Finance courses such as Ethics in Finance and Public Policy; Financial Analysis and Business Valuation; and Investments and Portfolio Management, students will take 15 credits of core business courses and six credits of MBA specific courses. Students without a business degree must take a prerequisite foundation course. Applicants to the MBA in Finance will need a bachelor’s degree and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.

Kansas State Universtiy

The College of Health and Human Services at Kansas State University (KSU) offers a Master of Science (MS) Personal Financial Planning (PFP) that will prepare graduates to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam. The 30-credit hour program requires students to pursue two tracks: the Financial Therapy track which all students must take, and then either the Financial Planning track for students seeking to take the CFP exam or the Advanced Financial Planning track for students who are already CFPs. The PFP program is entirely online and includes courses such as Personal Income Taxation; Applied Behavioral Finance; and Advanced Estate Planning Issues. Students who are not CFPs and have not taken a course covering the time-value of money will have to take Family Financial Planning or an equivalent prerequisite course. Admission to the program requires an undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The GRE is not required. KSU students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to continue in the program.

University of Kansas

The School of Business at the University of Kansas (KU) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Finance track that can be completed in as little as 16 months. The program teaches students about developments in business strategy and technology and critical leadership skills. The 50-credit hour, full-time curriculum is divided between 32 credits of core courses, seven credits of application courses, and 12 credits in the Finance track. Finance courses include Investments; Financing Business Growth; and Derivatives and Risk Management. Applicants to the MBA in Finance come from a variety of backgrounds, with the only prerequisite being a college algebra course or its equivalent. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a GMAT score of 500 or GRE equivalent.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University’s (FHSU) W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship hosts a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance designed to expose students to a wide array of finance-related disciplines. BBA students can complete the 120-credit hour program either in-person or entirely online. Degree paths in the Finance major include the core finance curriculum with courses such as Quantitative Methods and Fundamentals of Investments or an optional concentration in Banking with classes such as Bank Strategy and Fundamentals of Lending. To graduate from the program, students will need a minimum GPA of 2.0, both cumulatively and in all major coursework. Applicants to FHSU will need to submit high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores. Graduates from the BBA in Finance program may be interested in continuing their education in FHSU’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.

University of Saint Mary

The University of Saint Mary (USM) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a Finance concentration that can be completed by full-time students in 12 months and entirely online. Students in the 33-credit hour program will study subjects such as mergers, acquisitions, and financial issues. Courses are delivered in eight-week sessions, with the curriculum divided into eight core courses and three concentration courses. Finance concentration courses include Advanced Financial Topics; Financial and Capital Issues; and Financial Decisions. After completing the curriculum, students will complete the degree with a comprehensive final exam. Enrollment in the program requires a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, but there are no GRE requirements. For students seeking a traditional program, USM also offers an in-person Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.

Wichita State University

Wichita State University’s (WSU) W. Frank Barton School of Business offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a Finance concentration that blends theory with applied business practices. The MBA in Finance is available in a hybrid format with some courses available online. Most students complete the degree in seven semesters. Students with an undergraduate degree in business must complete 36 credit hours, which include 15 hours of core courses and 21 hours of finance courses. Finance courses cover topics such as managerial finance, portfolio management, and information systems. Students without a business degree may be required to take up to 15 credits of foundation courses. MBA applicants must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA and a GMAT or GRE score. Testing waivers are available for those with a satisfactory undergraduate GPA or a master’s degree.

Kansas Finance Careers and Salary Outlook

Finance professionals in Kansas may find opportunities in the state in a variety of positions and industries. The state has a large aerospace industry, including the Wichita-based companies Spirit AeroSystems and Textron Aviation. Kansas is home to many oil and natural gas companies including the Kansas Oil Company and Kansas Gas Service. Kansas is also home to the headquarters of large companies such as Butler Transport and AMC Theaters. The cities of Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka are the state’s main urban centers. The state capital of Topeka is home to many local financial services companies such as CoreFirst Bank & Trust and Capitol Federal Savings Bank.

The highest employment level for financial positions in Kansas is among financial managers and loan officers, at 4,440 and 4,060 employed, respectively.⁸ Financial managers have the highest average salaries of finance professionals in Kansas at $135,720 annually, though this average is lower than the national average of $147,530 for this profession.^8,9 Projections Central reports that financial positions in Kansas are expected to grow at a faster rate than the national average through 2028, with personal financial advisors seeing the highest rate of growth at 22.3%, more than three times the average national rate.¹⁰ Loan officer salaries in Kansas exceed the national average of $76,200, with an average annual salary of $79,410.^8,11 Nonmetropolitan Kansas has the highest employment among loan officers in nonmetropolitan regions in the US, with 1,540 loan officers working outside major cities.¹¹ Nonmetropolitan Kansas also has the highest employment levels for financial managers, financial analysts, personal financial advisors, and financial examiners among the country’s nonmetropolitan areas.^9,12,13,14

Kansas Finance Job Information

Finance Associations in Kansas

• Kansas Government Finance Officers Association (KSGFOA): Group promoting professional excellence and development in public sector financial management that provides educational resources and networking events to members.
• Kansas City Association for Financial Professionals (KCAFP): Professional organization for those in the region’s financial sector that arranges educational events and networking meetings and supports members pursuing the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation.
• CFA Society Kansas City (CFAKC): Regional professional association for financial professionals advocates for the industry; organizes educational opportunities and networking events; and assists candidates seeking the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

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. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Kansas: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ks.htm
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Managers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm
10. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm
11. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Loan Officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132072.htm
12. 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
13. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Personal Financial Advisors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132052.htm
14. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Examiners: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132061.htm