by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Investments and Securities covers Investments And Securities. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Assets Placed In Capital Markets, And Related Technical Operations. Includes Instruction In Security Analysis, Debt And Equity Analysis, Investment Strategies, Securities Markets, Computer-Assisted Research, Portfolio Management, Portfolio Performance Analysis, And Applications To Specific Investment Problems And Business Situations. Continue reading for the key facts every investments and securities student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering investments and securities programs.
Across the country, investments and securities is a widely-pursued major, with 414 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Investments and Securities Schools ranking analyzes these 23 schools to determine the best overall colleges for investments and securities students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of investments and securities programs later in this article.
Programs in Investments and Securities build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations investments and securities graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a investments and securities program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a investments and securities major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several investments and securities 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 | 155 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 259 |
People currently working in careers related to investments and securities tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.8% |
| Master’s degree | 6.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in investments and securities careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in investments and securities can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to investments and securities.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to investments and securities.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 1,156,027 | 9.2% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 76,931 | 6.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of investments and securities graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 investments and securities graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers investments and securities grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $82,666 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $49,944 |
With 23 different investments and securities programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased investments and securities school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in investments and securities, 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 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services, Other | 363 |
| International Finance | 124 |
| Public Finance | 63 |
| Credit Management | 4 |
| Financial Risk Management | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
