The finance major emphasizes analytic, problem solving, and computer skills which are necessary for finance and investment industry. The major prepares students for careers in corporate finance, investment and portfolio management, banking, public finance, and international finance. The major also prepares students who want to pursue graduate study in finance. Depending on their interests, graduates may then seek financial services credentials such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The requirements in the major complement basic business instruction in accounting, management, marketing, and information systems. With business and non-business electives, the program is designed to develop necessary skills to be an effective financial manager. Because the Harrisburg area is the center of industry and economic development for south-central Pennsylvania, students are provided with many opportunities to experience the world of business. For a B.S. degree in Finance, a minimum of 120 credits is required. At least 50 percent of the business credit hours required for the degree must be taken at Penn State Harrisburg. No more than 60 credits should be from business and business-related courses.

Graduates of the Finance program at Penn State Harrisburg will find numerous challenging career opportunities in the world of business. Positions are found in the fields of commercial banking, corporate finance, insurance, investment banking, and real estate. In commercial banking, graduates find positions such as credit analyst, loan officer, branch manager, trust officer, or mortgage banker. In corporate finance, positions include treasurer, financial analyst, credit manager, cash manager, benefits officer, real estate officer, and investor relations officer. In investment banking, positions are found in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, project finance and trading, public finance, institutional sales, and retail brokerage. Entry-level positions exist in the insurance industry, where a Finance graduate may begin a career as an underwriter, sales representative, asset manager, customer service representative, or an actuary. Real estate firms employ Finance graduates in fields such as title insurance, mortgage banking, property management, real estate appraisals, brokerage and leasing, and in real estate development.