Financial Services (BS)
Invest in a future of multiple possibilities.
- Available as
- Major
- Degrees/Options
- Bachelor of Science
- Length
- 4 years
- Locations
- Fort Wayne
Why Study Financial Services?
Corporations rely on finance experts to ensure that their firms’ long-term investment activities provide a return for them, the financial costs related to those investment decisions are minimized, and to ensure that the firms have the proper financial resources to operate. Financial experts also play an important role in the financial markets by evaluating individual securities and developing portfolios that manage the trade-off between risk and return. Saint Francis’ financial services program encompasses a wide variety of career paths, offering students the specialized knowledge and skills to serve the complex demands of a rapidly changing business environment.
16%
Projected growth in demand for financial managers through 2032, much faster than the average occupation
BLS.gov
$139,790
Median annual salary for financial manager occupations in 2022
BLS.gov
792,600
Number of jobs for financial managers in 2022
BLS.gov
Why Saint Francis for
Your Degree in Financial Services?
The University of Saint Francis is renowned in the region for preparing the next generation of professionals for today’s global, technology-driven business world. Our degree in financial services is designed to give you deep knowledge of:
- Accounting
- Business
- Finance
- Entrepreneurial thinking
- Management
- Marketing
- Personal Finance
- Project Management
- Risk Management
A Saint Francis education goes beyond analytical skills and financial know-how. Rooted in the liberal arts and built on the Franciscan tradition of faith and reason, our core and business curriculums prepare you to become a trusted, ethical financial professional with critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and other soft skills desired by employers.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
As a finance major, you will benefit from Saint Francis’ strong ties to the local business community. This opens the door for internship, networking, and career opportunities.
Internships
Gain professional experience in a real-world finance setting, such as:
- Ash Brokerage
- Lincoln Financial Group
- MedPro Group
- Northwestern Mutual
- Shelton Financial Group
Busse Speaker Series
Hear from local business and community leaders as they share their success stories.
Stock Market Competition
Participate in simulated stock market competitions as part of Saint Francis’ Finance and Investment Society.
Faculty and Facilities
As a Saint Francis financial services major, you will take courses from professors and instructors with wide-ranging scholarly interests and professional experiences. You’ll experience the hustle and bustle of downtown Fort Wayne when you take classes at Saint Francis’ Business Center. This facility, located inside the historic Chamber of Commerce, features collaborative and high-tech learning spaces, including our finance lab, where you’ll see real-time market data tick by.
Campus and Community
Saint Francis has more than 40 student clubs and organizations, including the Finance and Investment Society, which not only allows you to participate in a stock market competition but also hosts other networking and educational events. Depending on your career goals, you might also be interested in joining the Luca Pacioli Society (accounting club).
- Luca Pacioli Society (accounting club)
- Finance and Investment Society
What You Can Do With a Degree in Financial Services?
A financial services degree from Saint Francis is more versatile than you might first think. Banks, insurance companies, and big corporations are certainly common employers, but you can also find positions within small businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, starts-ups, and more. Example titles include:
- Financial analysts
- Financial managers
- Financial planning/financial advisors
- Compensation/benefits analysts
- Risk and enterprise risk analysts
- Insurance underwriters
- Banking operations
- Associate underwriter
- Risk management specialists
- Claims adjuster
- Risk manager
- Risk advisor
- Social insurance specialist
With time and experience, you could advance into senior leadership or executive roles, such as a director, vice president, chief financial officer (CFO) or partner. If your goal is to become an investment manager, a financial services degree may also help you meet the educational requirements needed to sit for the certified financial planner (CFP) exam.
“My experience with the professors at The University of Saint Francis is not summarized by what they taught from books or lessons but by the soft skills they exemplified. Good communication skills, leadership, strong work ethic, time management, and above all, a kind heart!”
Piercen Harnish, CFP ’19 Financial Advisor at Shelton Financial Group, Inc.
“The professors at Saint Francis are invested in their students’ performance not only in the classroom, but in the workforce as well. I have found that my professors’ teachings are extremely useful and relevant to the real world which will help me succeed in my future career.”
Kyler Baird ’26 Financial Services major
Where You’ll Find Our Graduates
You will find Saint Francis financial services graduates starting and advancing their careers at companies such as:
- ASH Brokerage
- Shelton Financial
- One Resource Group
- Lincoln Financial
- Northwestern Mutual
- Franklin Electric
- Phillips Financial
- Star Bank
Additionally, some Saint Francis financial services majors can pursue MBAs or other advanced leadership or financial planning degrees either directly after graduation or later in their careers.