How Long Does It Take To Get A Finance Degree?

If you are thinking about studying finance, one of the first questions in your mind is:

“How long does it take to get a finance degree?”

The simple answer is:

Associate degree in finance: about 2 years
Bachelor’s degree in finance: about 4 years
Master’s degree in finance: about 2 years after bachelor’s
Doctorate (PhD) in finance: about 3 to 6+ years after master’s
Finance certifications (like CFA, CFP): a few months to a couple of years (exam + preparation)

But this is just the starting point.
The exact time depends on many things, like:

Full-time or part-time study
Online or on-campus classes
Your country and university
Whether you fail or repeat any subjects
Whether you take breaks or work while studying

In this blog, we will explain all these points in easy language so that any student or parent can understand the full picture.

What Is a Finance Degree?

A finance degree teaches you how money works in businesses, banks, and markets. You learn things like:

How companies plan their budget
How to analyze investments
How to manage risk
How to read financial statements
How stock markets and banks work

Common subjects in a finance degree include:

Financial Accounting
Corporate Finance
Investment Analysis
Financial Markets
Economics
Business Statistics

So, a finance degree is good for students who:

Like numbers
Enjoy working with data and money
Want a career in banking, investment, corporate finance, insurance, or financial planning

Now let’s see how long each type of finance degree takes.

How Long Does an Associate Degree in Finance Take?

Duration: About 2 Years (Full-Time)

An Associate Degree in Finance is usually a 2-year program. It is more common in some countries like the USA, especially at community colleges.

You study basic topics like:

Introduction to Finance
Accounting Basics
Business Math
Economics

After an associate degree, you can:

Start entry-level jobs (like bank clerk, junior assistant, accounts assistant), or
Transfer to a Bachelor’s program and complete the remaining years

Example Timeline for Associate Degree

Let’s say:

You join an associate degree in 2026
It takes 2 years full-time

Then your completion year = 2026 + 2 = 2028

If you later join a bachelor’s degree and your new university accepts your previous credits, you may need only 2 more years to complete the bachelor’s.

So your total time to reach bachelor’s level could be:
2 years (Associate) + 2 years (remaining Bachelor) = 4 years
This is the same total time as directly doing a bachelor’s from the start.

How Long Does a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance Take?

Duration: About 4 Years (Full-Time)

A bachelor’s degree in finance is usually 4 years of full-time study in many countries.

This is the most common degree for students who want a career in finance.
You learn:

Corporate finance
Investment and portfolio management
Financial markets
Banking
Risk management
Financial modeling

Many programs also include internships, which may add extra months but give you experience and job chances.

Example Timeline for a Bachelor’s Degree

Suppose:

You finish school in 2025
You join a bachelor’s in finance in August 2025
The degree duration is 4 years

So:

Year 1: 2025–2026
Year 2: 2026–2027
Year 3: 2027–2028
Year 4: 2028–2029

You will graduate in 2029.

What If You Study Part-Time?

If you study part-time, you may take 5 to 6 years instead of 4 years, because:

You take fewer subjects each semester
You may be working while studying

For example:

Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: 6 years

So, if you start in 2025 and take 6 years, you will finish in 2031.

How Long Does a Master’s Degree in Finance Take?

Duration: About 1–2 Years (Full-Time)

A Master’s in Finance (MFin or MS in Finance) usually takes 1 to 2 years if you already have a bachelor’s degree (often in finance, business, economics, or a related field).

Many universities design it as:

1-year intensive program, or
2-year standard program

A master’s degree is useful if you want:

Higher-level roles in investment banking, risk management, corporate finance, or asset management
A better salary and career growth

Total Time from School to Master’s

Let’s calculate an example in a simple way.

Assume:

Bachelor’s in Finance = 4 years
Master’s in Finance = 2 years

Total duration from start of bachelor’s to end of master’s:

4 years (bachelor’s) + 2 years (master’s) = 6 years

Example Calculation

You start bachelor’s in 2025
Finish bachelor’s in 2029 (4 years)
Start master’s in 2029
Finish master’s in 2031 (2 years)

So from school to master’s degree in finance = 6 years (2025–2031).

If the master’s program is only 1 year, total time becomes:

4 (bachelor’s) + 1 (master’s) = 5 years.

How Long Does a PhD (Doctorate) in Finance Take?

Duration: Around 3–6+ Years After Master’s

A PhD in Finance is for students who want to:

Become professors in universities
Do research in finance
Work in high-level research roles in big companies or think-tanks

The duration is usually:

3 to 6 years full-time after a master’s
Sometimes even longer, depending on the thesis and research work

Total Timeline from School to PhD

Let’s assume:

Bachelor’s in Finance = 4 years
Master’s in Finance = 2 years
PhD in Finance = 5 years (average)

So total time:

4 + 2 + 5 = 11 years

Example Timeline

Start bachelor’s: 2025
Finish bachelor’s: 2029 (4 years)
Finish master’s: 2031 (2 years)
Finish PhD: 2036 (5 years)

So, from 2025 to 2036 = 11 years of higher education.

This is a long journey, but it is suitable for students who love research, teaching, and advanced financial theory.

How Long Do Finance Certifications Take?

Apart from degrees, many people in finance also do professional certifications, like:

CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
FRM (Financial Risk Manager)

These do not work like normal college degrees.
They have multiple exam levels and self-study time.

Example: CFA Program (Just an Illustrative Example)

Suppose:

You prepare 6–9 months for each level
CFA has 3 levels

If you pass each level on your first attempt, a common timeline may look like:

Level I: 9 months prep
Level II: 9 months prep
Level III: 9 months prep

Total: 9 + 9 + 9 = 27 months ≈ 2 years and 3 months

If you fail any level and retake it, the time becomes longer.
So finance certifications usually take anywhere between a few months to 3–4 years, depending on:

How many hours you study per week
Whether you pass exams on your first attempt
Gaps between exam attempts

These certifications are often done along with work or after your bachelor’s degree.

Factors That Affect How Long a Finance Degree Takes

The official duration is one thing.
But real life is sometimes different.
Here are major factors that can change your timeline:

1. Full-Time vs Part-Time

Full-time:
- You take a full course load (many subjects each semester)
- You finish faster (e.g., 4 years for bachelor’s)
Part-time:
- You take fewer subjects
- Good for people who work
- Can extend a 4-year degree to 5–7 years

2. Online vs On-Campus

Many universities offer online finance degrees
Some online programs allow accelerated study, where motivated students can complete faster
But if you balance work and study, you may take slightly longer

3. Country and University Rules

Duration can vary by:

Country’s education system
University structure (semester vs trimester, credit requirements)
Some places have 3-year bachelor’s programs, others have 4-year ones

Always check the official website of the university for accurate duration info.

4. Backlogs, Failures, or Changing Major

If you:

Fail some subjects
Change your major
Take breaks due to health or personal reasons

Then you may add extra semesters or extra years.

5. Internships and Co-op Programs

Some finance degree programs include:

Internships (3–6 months)
Co-op (where you work in a company for longer periods)

These may extend your time slightly but increase your job chances later.

Simple Duration Comparison Table

Finance Path	Approx Time (Full-Time)
Associate Degree in Finance	2 years
Bachelor’s Degree in Finance	4 years
Bachelor’s (part-time)	5–6 years
Master’s Degree in Finance	1–2 years after bachelor’s
PhD in Finance	3–6+ years after master’s
CFA / Finance Certifications	Few months to 2–4 years

Example Study Plans (With Simple Calculations)

Let’s look at some realistic paths, so you can choose what suits you best.

Student A: Wants to Start Working Quickly

Path: Associate Degree in Finance
Time: 2 years
Start: 2026
End: 2028

After that, Student A starts working in a bank as a junior staff.
If later they want to grow more, they can do a bachelor’s part-time.

Student B: Wants a Solid Career in Finance

Path: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance
Time: 4 years
Start: 2025
End: 2029

Now suppose Student B gets a job as a financial analyst and after 3 years decides to do a 1-year master’s.

Work: 2029–2032 (3 years)
Master’s: 2032–2033 (1 year)

Total time from starting bachelor’s:
4 (bachelor’s) + 3 (work) + 1 (master’s) = 8 years

But notice, study-only time is still 5 years (4 + 1). Work time is a bonus for experience and income.

Student C: Wants an Academic and Research Career

Path: Bachelor’s + Master’s + PhD
Bachelor’s: 4 years (2025–2029)
Master’s: 2 years (2029–2031)
PhD: 5 years (2031–2036)

Total study time = 4 + 2 + 5 = 11 years

In 2036, Student C will have a PhD and can work as a professor or researcher.

Is It Worth Spending So Many Years on a Finance Degree?

This depends on your goals.

If you want a stable job with decent pay → A bachelor’s degree in finance is usually enough.
If you want high-level roles, like investment banker, portfolio manager, chief financial officer (CFO) → A master’s and possibly certifications (like CFA) can be very helpful.
If you want to work in universities or research → A PhD is needed.

Finance is a field where:

Skills with numbers, analysis, and decision-making are rewarded
There is demand in banks, companies, startups, government, and NGOs

So, even if it takes 4–6 years of study, many people feel it is worth the time.

Also Read: What Is Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps?

Conclusion: How Long Does It Take To Get A Finance Degree

So, how long does it take to get a finance degree?

2 years for an associate degree
4 years for a bachelor’s degree (more if part-time)
1–2 extra years for a master’s degree
3–6+ extra years for a PhD
A few months to a few years for finance certifications like CFA, CFP, or FRM

Your total time depends on:

How far you want to go (bachelor’s vs master’s vs PhD)
Whether you study full-time or part-time
Whether you take breaks or work while studying

If you plan carefully, understand your goals, and choose the right path, the time you invest in a finance degree can give you a strong and rewarding career in the world of money and business.