by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Public Finance involves the study of Public Finance. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Financial Assets And Budgets Of Public Sector Organizations. Includes Instruction In Public Trusts And Investments; The Laws And Procedures Used To Plan, Prepare And Administer Public Agency Budgets; And The Preparation And Analysis Of Public Budget Projections And Policies. Continue reading for the essential details every public finance major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public finance programs.
In the U.S., public finance is a popular field of study, with 63 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Finance Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public finance students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public finance programs later in this article.
Programs in Public Finance build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public finance graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a public finance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a public finance major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public finance 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 | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 40 |
People currently working in careers related to public finance tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.3% |
| Master’s degree | 20.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public finance careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in public finance can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to public finance.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public finance.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Risk Specialists | 684,551 | -3.8% |
| Budget Analysts | 509,913 | -2.6% |
| Treasurers and Controllers | 229,662 | 0.6% |
| Investment Fund Managers | 185,925 | 14.1% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
| Financial Managers | 145,690 | 9.0% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 76,931 | 6.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of public finance 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 public finance graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public finance grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Treasurers and Controllers | $162,461 |
| Investment Fund Managers | $157,819 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $127,364 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $82,666 |
| Budget Analysts | $80,859 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
| Financial Managers | $75,665 |
With 6 different public finance programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public finance school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in public finance, 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 |
| Credit Management | 4 |
| Financial Risk Management | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
