by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Financial Risk Management covers A Program That Focuses On The Strategies Used To Define And Manage Acceptable Financial Risk For Companies. Includes Instruction In Banking And Bank Regulations, Derivative Securities, Interest Rate And Credit Markets, Financial Engineering Of Systematic Risk, And Equity, Bond, Futures, And Options Markets. Continue reading for the key facts every financial risk management student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering financial risk management programs.
In the U.S., financial risk management is a popular field of study, with 3 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Financial Risk Management Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for financial risk management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of financial risk management programs later in this article.
Studies in Financial Risk Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations financial risk management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a financial risk management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a financial risk management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several financial risk management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to financial risk management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.9% |
| Master’s degree | 18.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.1% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in financial risk management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in financial risk management opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to financial risk management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to financial risk management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Credit Analysts | 274,988 | -3.7% |
| Treasurers and Controllers | 229,662 | 0.6% |
| Investment Fund Managers | 185,925 | 14.1% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
| Financial Managers | 145,690 | 9.0% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 76,931 | 6.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of financial risk management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $60,617 |
| 4 years | $75,528 |
| 5 years | $88,287 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for financial risk management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers financial risk management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Treasurers and Controllers | $162,461 |
| Investment Fund Managers | $157,819 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Insurance Underwriters | $129,939 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $82,666 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Financial Managers | $75,665 |
With 1 different financial risk management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased financial risk management school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in financial risk management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Finance, General | 49,828 |
| Financial Planning and Services | 5,773 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services | 992 |
| Investments and Securities | 414 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other | 363 |
| International Finance | 124 |
| Public Finance | 63 |
| Credit Management | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
