Fintech Degree | Best Schools for Fintech (2024)

Written by Sam KlemensLast updated:

A fintech degree is a relatively new way of entering an exciting new field. Financial technology, or fintech, is the fastest-growing job sector in finance. Longer-term, it may be one of the only growing job sectors in finance, as large banks are projecting hundreds of thousands of job losses. fintech positions, however, will be largely protected against redundancy.

Over the next decade (or two), banks and governments worldwide will update their systems to 21st century standards, which means employing tens of thousands of fintech professionals.

For the most part, an upgrade to the financial system means adopting blockchain and distributed ledger technology. Regardless of whether public blockchains like Ethereum and Bitcoin play a role, blockchain will be widely adopted for various purposes. Central bank digital currencies, smart contracts, private stablecoins like the JPM coin, and so much more.

Job seekers who complete a fintech bachelor’s degree stand to graduate into a robust job market, a market that’s only going to improve as more companies and governments seek to capitalize on the latest financial technologies. While tech hubs like Singapore, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, New York, and London are where most jobs will be, fintech professionals can work in almost any city. A fintech degree gives the graduate lots of flexibility in where they choose to work and live.

Steps in Choosing a Fintech Degree Program

Prospective students interested in taking a bachelor’s degree in financial technology may wish to consider the following factors.

  • Prerequisites – Students graduating from high school with elective classes in math and finance may find it easier to get admitted to a university that offers a fintech bachelor’s degree
  • Degree requirements – To graduate from a fintech bachelor’s degree program, students will need to complete classes in finance, computer science, and data management
  • Admission requirements – The admission requirements depend on the university where the student is applying. The university may or may not have special requirements for students to get accepted by a fintech degree program
  • The application process – Students may begin applying for a bachelor’s degree program up to a year in advance. Many schools have an online application process
  • Cost – According to US News, the average price for in-state tuition at a public university is $9,687 per year. Out-of-state tuition at a public university costs $21,184 per year

The Best Schools for a Fintech Degree

Unfortunately, at this time, there are only a few universities in the United States that are offering a bachelor’s degree in financial technology. There are several reasons why this is the case. Many fintech job seekers elect to get a master’s degree, which has led to a proliferation of fintech master’s degree programs rather than bachelor’s degree programs.

At the other end of the spectrum, fintech bootcamps have also become quite popular. A bootcamp is a fast and comparatively inexpensive way for a student to get a solid grounding in fintech without having to take a college degree.

Seton Hall is one of the few universities to offer a fintech bachelor’s degree. According to the campus’s degree page, the program enables students to “bridge the gap between the finance and technology staffs, uniquely preparing you for the most well-paid and sought-after positions in the financial industry. You will study financial strategy and investment analysis alongside courses in programming and information modeling.”

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) also offers a bachelor’s degree program where students study machine learning, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, investment analysis and management, and artificial intelligence. NJIT’s full curriculum will be covered in detail in a later section of this guide.

Job seekers who want to take a fintech bachelor’s degree may also consider international financial centers like Singapore and Hong Kong, which have plenty of educational opportunities. Alternatively, a job seeker can complete an undergraduate degree in finance and supplement that education with a fintech course, a fintech bootcamp, or a master’s degree in fintech.

The Advantages of an Online Fintech Degree

An online fintech degree offers several advantages over a traditional, classroom-based degree.

  1. Flexibility – While some online lectures are presented live, many are pre-recorded, which means that students can watch them at any time. Online learning may be especially convenient for students who plan to work and study
  2. Location-independent – Online lectures can be viewed from anywhere; students needn’t go to campus
  3. A wider variety of subjects – Online degree programs can sometimes offer a greater degree of flexibility in what students study since students may have access to a variety of lectures from outside of their degree path
  4. Affordability – Online bachelor’s degree programs tend to be cheaper than campus-based programs
  5. Professor availability – Students may have even more access to their professors in an online setting than they would in a classroom-based model. Online programs typically offer students multiple ways to connect and work with their professors

Admissions Requirements

Fintech bachelor’s degree programs don’t typically have admission requirements separate from those of the university. If a student is admitted to a university, they will typically have the option to complete a degree in fintech.

The following are some of the most common requirements to be admitted to a four-year university.

  • SAT Score – The average SAT score for students who get admitted to university is 1,050
  • High School GPA – Most students who plan on attending university have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Extracurricular activities – After school activities like sports and club memberships may help a student to get admitted to more universities
  • Elective classes – Elective classes in math, computer science, and economics can be beneficial for students who are planning on getting a fintech bachelor’s degree

The New Jersey Institute of Technology, which offers a four-year undergraduate degree in fintech, has higher than usual admission requirements. The average incoming freshman has an SAT score of 1,285 and an ACT score of 26.

Seton Hall students can apply online for the fintech bachelor’s degree program. There is a non-refundable $55 application fee. After filling out the online application, students will need to supply a high-school transcript and a copy of their SAT or ACT results.

Fintech Degree Curriculum

The following are two example curriculums for real bachelor’s degree programs in financial technology. Although every university offers different classes, themes like financial analysis and blockchain technology are common in every fintech program.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Degree Curriculum

  • Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
  • Computer Science with Business Problems
  • English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking I
  • Calculus for Business
  • Introduction to Business
  • First-Year Seminar
  • Introduction to Computer Science
  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Macroeconomics
  • English Composition: Writing, Speaking, Thinking II
  • Business Law I
  • Introduction to Management Information Systems
  • Microeconomics
  • Business Data Analytics
  • History and Humanities
  • Natural Science
  • Fundamentals of Corporate Finance
  • Principles of Marketing
  • Management Science
  • Introduction to Computer Science II 3
  • Natural Science w/Lab
  • Financial Markets and Institutions
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Data-Driven Financial Modeling
  • Financing New Venture
  • Career Planning and Major Field Test 1
  • Web App Development for Mobile
  • Database Systems for Managers
  • Financial Data Analytics 3
  • History and Humanities
  • Blockchain Technology for Business
  • Options and Futures Markets
  • History and Humanities
  • Investments Management
  • Data Mining and Machine Learning
  • Business With the Power of Technology
  • Managing Technology and Innovation
  • Artificial Intelligence for Business
  • Humanities and Social Sciences Senior Seminar

A complete course curriculum is also available for Virginia Commonwealth University’s Financial Technology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a concentration in financial engineering.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students should expect to pay about the same for a fintech bachelor’s degree as they would pay for any undergraduate degree in the United States. According to US News, the average annual tuition cost for an in-state degree at a public university is $9,687. Tuition at an out-of-state public university costs $21,184 per year. In-state education at a private university costs $35,087 per year.

The annual, full-time tuition cost for the New Jersey Institute of Technology is $14,448 for residents of New Jersey and $30,160 for out-of-state students.

For Virginia Commonwealth University, the annual tuition for an in-state student is $12,094, while out-of-state students can expect to pay $32,742 per year.

Creighton University charges a flat fee of $42,618 per year.

Financial aid and scholarships are a few of the key ways to offset the cost of a four-year fintech degree.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Qualifying students can reduce tuition costs through various scholarships and financial aid programs. Eligibility can be based on financial need or academic achievement. At Seton Hall, “Generally, the higher a student’s academic standing, the higher the scholarship award.” Seton Hall lists more than a dozen scholarships on their website, for awards ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 per year.

Students should apply for a scholarship before January 15th. Seton Hall also recommends that students “Visit some college scholarship web search services like that offered by the College Board, FastWeb.com or FinAid.org

All university students in the United States can apply for federally subsidized financial aid and loans via the FAFSA program. The maximum FAFSA grant is $4,000, awarded annually, while the average student receives $670.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology claims that “Close to 80 percent of all our undergrad students receive some form of financial aid as well as 92 percent of our first time incoming first-year students and transfer students. Our office provides more than $100 million in financial assistance to our students.”

Before applying to any university with an undergraduate degree in fintech, prospective students should check with the institution to find out what financial aid opportunities are available.

Fintech Career Outlook

The job prospects for fintech professionals are excellent. Fintech is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States, and employers are struggling to fill all of their vacancies with qualified candidates. According to Fintech Futures, “The global fintech market is predicted to grow at a rate of almost 25 percent annually over the next couple of years.”

According to ZipRecruiter, “The number of fintech jobs in ZipRecruiter’s employment marketplace has doubled each year since 2016.” Furthermore, an average salary for a fintech professional based on the top 10 job listings on ZipRecruiter is $77,677 per year.

One specific example of an opportunity available in fintech is from Atlanta. According to the Georgia Fintech Academy,

  • 70 percent of all credit, debit, and gift card swipes are processed through a Georgia company
  • Georgia’s fintech industry has an estimated need for 5,000 fintech-ready professionals by 2021 and 2,000 annually after 2023
  • Salaries for certain positions in this field can reach six figures just out of college!

As distributed ledger technology becomes more popular, there will be even more opportunities for fintech professionals with blockchain experience will have even more opportunities. For example, in 2020, PayPal hired a group of blockchain engineers before enabling Bitcoin purchases later in the year. What other companies are integrating blockchain and cryptocurrencies into their business model?Imagine the demand for blockchain-certified fintech professionals if/when major entities like the USA and the EU release Central Bank Digital Currencies. Already high, the number of fintech positions will only increase as governments, organizations, and companies update their financial systems to 21st century standards.

Fintech Degree | Best Schools for Fintech (2024)

FAQs

Which degree is best for FinTech? ›

9 Bachelor Programs in Fintech
  • Bachelor of Applied Business Administration in Banking and Financial Technology. ...
  • BS in Financial Technology. ...
  • Bachelor of Business Administration and Digital Innovation with Digital Finance and Fintech. ...
  • BSc (Hons) in Information Technology - Financial Technology (FinTech) Specialization.

Which country is best to study FinTech? ›

MSc in Financial Technology – Imperial College London, England. The MSc Financial Technology program of the Imperial College Business School in England, is a one-year full-time program providing graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to embark on a career in fintech or in the financial services sector.

Is working in a FinTech good career? ›

The adoption of technology and AI-driven approaches in the financial sector has never been more of a priority. With all this development investment, careers in FinTech, now more than ever, are providing lucrative opportunities for finance, tech and business experts.

What do you need to learn for FinTech? ›

FinTech degree programmes include traditional finance modules as well as learning about evolution and theories of data-driven financial modelling, data mining, machine learning, analytics, and recent innovations such as AI, cloud computing and blockchain.

Does FinTech need math? ›

FinTech is short for Finance or Financial Tech - typically software supporting Financial Institutions. This would include back-end systems and front end systems like web based and mobile technologies. This will definitely require strong math, logic and analytical skills.

Is FinTech hard to learn? ›

FinTech professionals don't really need deep tech knowledge to make it in the field. They require substantial familiarity with the workings of the different underlying technologies to use them for FinTech innovations.

Which country is the leader in fintech? ›

China was the leader in banking and payments, with 92 percent of fintech adoption by small and medium enterprises in this category.

Which city has the most fintech companies? ›

San Francisco has emerged as the undisputed global leader in FinTech hubs, followed by London, New York, Singapore, and Sao Paulo.

What is the fintech capital of the world? ›

Leaders from the financial technology industry are meeting in Atlanta this week at the Fintech South conference. For decades, the city has been a leading hub for financial transactions.

Does fintech pay well? ›

The average fintech salary in the USA is $125,131 per year or $64.17 per hour. Entry level positions start at $91,946 per year while most experienced workers make up to $183,027 per year.

What is the top fintech company? ›

Stripe: $95 billion

The company remains the most valuable American private fintech with a $95 billion valuation raised in a 2021 Series H round, and is the world's fourth most valuable private company, following tiktok owner Bytedance, Elon Musk's SpaceX and Chinese fast fashion seller SHEIN.

How do I start a fintech career? ›

How to Get Into Fintech Roles?
  1. Step 1: Acquire In-Demand Fintech Skills. ...
  2. Step 2: Stay Updated With Latest Fintech Trends. ...
  3. Step 3: Network With People in the Fintech Industry. ...
  4. Step 4: Create a Stellar Resume. ...
  5. Step 5: Make a List of the Top Fintech Companies. ...
  6. Step 6: Do Internships in the Finance Space.
16 Sept 2022

How do I get into Fintech with no experience? ›

To get a job in FinTech with no experience, the key lies in first getting to know the many layers of the industry and honing your chosen skills. This often includes applying for internships, jumping at opportunities that may come your way, and connecting with people in the field.

What skills do you need in Fintech? ›

Financial Fundamentals: The best fintech professionals will have a solid understanding of the core financial fundamentals needed to succeed in the field.
...
Hard Skills:
  • Security and privacy.
  • Programmability and scalability.
  • Trust and transparency.
  • Reliably high performance.

Are Fintech jobs in demand? ›

The most in-demand remote jobs in 2022 are in FinTech. Looking forward to 2023, you may be considering a career in the financial technology (FinTech) industry.

Is FinTech a STEM degree? ›

Is the MS in Fintech a STEM designated degree program? MSFT is a STEM designated degree program. This designation can be beneficial for students as there is a growing demand for STEM skill sets in today's market.

Is FinTech a STEM major? ›

The Master of Science in FinTech qualifies as a STEM degree, which allows international students to apply for a 24-month extension to their optional practical training (OPT) period.

What does a career in FinTech look like? ›

Every day, fintech professionals race to create products that run the gamut from budgeting apps to mobile investment portfolios and automated payment software. This uptick in interest and investment has led to significant opportunities for those who want to build careers in fintech.

Is fintech better than finance? ›

With fintech comes enhanced and personalised user experience, among other advantages like better technology and functional efficiency. Making all aspects of finance more accessible to Indian consumers, fintech is much preferred over traditional banking services.

What language does fintech learn? ›

Python is one of the most popular programming languages and a common choice for professionals who work in Fintech. This language is flexible and relatively easy to learn, so it can be a good choice for students trying to decide what language they want to start with.

How do I become an fintech expert? ›

Learn the skills of Fintech
  1. Master Fintech, AI, Open Banking, Payments & RegTech.
  2. Learn from top CEOs, CIOs, Founders and Experts.
  3. Advance your career with LinkedIn Badges.
  4. Learn with easy-to-digest 15 mins daily lessons.

How many FinTech companies are there? ›

There are currently over 26,000 fintech startups worldwide.

What is an example of a FinTech company? ›

Examples of FinTech. Some well-known companies such as Personal Capital, Lending Club, Kabbage and Wealthfront are examples of FinTech companies that have emerged in the past decade, providing new twists on financial concepts and allowing consumers to have more influence on their financial outcomes.

What kind of company is FinTech? ›

The term “fintech company” describes any business that uses technology to modify, enhance, or automate financial services for businesses or consumers.

Where are most FinTech companies located in USA? ›

Top 5 Fintech Cities in the USA
  • San Francisco (California) Most research are adamant that San Francisco, and Silicon Valley in particular, is not only the US' top fintech city, it's also the world's leading fintech hub. ...
  • New York City (New York) ...
  • Chicago (Illinois) ...
  • Boston (Massachusetts) ...
  • Los Angeles (California)
29 Jun 2021

Where is FinTech located? ›

Where is Fintech's headquarters? Fintech's headquarters is located at 24, Yeoui-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. What is Fintech's latest funding round?

Which city has the most number of FinTech Startups in world? ›

New York City: 157 Startups

Considered by many as the world's financial capital, New York is also associated with the availability of skilled talent and high startup incubator activity.

Who is the largest fintech company? ›

In 2021, the largest two were the payment companies Visa and Mastercard, both headquartered in the United States, with a market capitalization of almost 478 billion and 368 billion U.S. dollars, respectively.

Why is China capital of fintech? ›

China also leads in terms of small and medium-sized enterprises adopting fintech services, among major and emerging economies. Experts attribute this, for the most part, to China's economy skipping the credit card phase between cash and digital payments.

How many fintech companies are there in China? ›

Mainland China has a total of 13 Fintech unicorns founded by Chinese citizens. In the recently released Global Fintech Hub Report 2021, Beijing was named the best fintech hub, followed by San Francisco, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and London.

What is the highest paid job in finance? ›

1. Chief Executives. Chief executives, such as chief executive officers (CEOs) and chief financial officers (CFOs), are responsible for overseeing all activities within a company, so their high salary also comes with a lot of responsibility. CFOs in particular manage the finances of a company.

Is PayPal a fintech? ›

PayPal is a fintech product company working on top of this long-established infrastructure. Square transactions are similar today, but it has launched the ability to pay for transactions with the Cash App, bypassing the traditional financial networks.

What is fintech entry level jobs? ›

Fintech Entry Level jobs
  • Software Engineer - Campus Entry-Level. Capital Management3.7. ...
  • SOFTWARE ENGINEER - CAMPUS ENTRY-LEVEL. Peak64.0. ...
  • People and Office Ambassador. NMI. ...
  • Fintech Analyst. StubHub3.8. ...
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist/Recruiter. ...
  • Attorney (Monetary Affairs & Payment Systems) ...
  • Fintech Analyst. ...
  • Trading Specialist.

Does fintech have future? ›

The more they employ technology to their advantage, the stronger the brand will become, allowing them to weather any storms. Fintech is a growing industry with seemingly limitless opportunities to improve our financial systems.

Who are major players in fintech? ›

The Top 100 Financial Technology Companies of 2022
  • American Express. Category: Consumer Payments. ...
  • PayPal. Category: Consumer Payments. ...
  • Mastercard. Category: Consumer Payments. ...
  • Fiserv. Category: Payment Solutions. ...
  • Visa. Category: Consumer Payments. ...
  • Intuit. Category: Accounting Solutions. ...
  • Finastra. Category: Banking Technology. ...
  • Klarna.
16 Aug 2022

What is the next big thing in fintech? ›

Technologies such as smart contracts, zero- knowledge proof, and distributed data storage and exchange, which are key to existing fintech innovations such as digital wallets, digital assets, decentralized finance (DeFi), and non-fungible tokens (NFT), will continue to play a prominent role.

What are fintech courses? ›

Fintech stands for "financial technologies" but it isn't just for those in financial institutions. It's is a new technology that automates and improves the various financial services employed by businesses and organizations. Regardless of the field you're in, Fintech is transforming it.

Should I pursue a career in fintech? ›

As one of the fastest-growing industries, the fintech industry is well-suited to people who are passionate about technology — especially those who want to have access to and work with newer technologies or want experience working with newer technologies.

What do fintech employees do? ›

These specialists in math, data science, finance and application development will create the algorithms of the future to help companies reach their financial goals. Responsibilities: Researching, analyzing and forecasting market trends to make modeling decisions.

Is there a degree in FinTech? ›

Bachelor in Accounting (Fintech) (Honours) programme offered by Taylor's Business School is designed to equip students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding in all areas of accounting and financial technology.

What is a FinTech degree? ›

The new Finance and Technology (FinTech) degree—one of the first of its kind in the U.S.—is a program that intersects our upper-ranked finance and business intelligence and analytics programs. FinTech encompasses the increasing use of technology in the financial services industry.

How do you become a FinTech professional? ›

Do I need to have previous experience in programming or fintech before applying? No programming or finance experience is required, however it is recommended that applicants hold a bachelor's degree or have at least two years of experience in business, management, finance, statistics, or a related field.

How do I get a job at FinTech? ›

First step is to familiarize yourself with Fintech, and this is possible by taking one of many online courses available on Fintech.
...
How to get into Fintech?
  1. Step 1: Start with the basics. ...
  2. Step 2: Build a solid foundation in Fintech theory. ...
  3. Step 3: Advanced Applications.

Where I can study FinTech? ›

The top institutes offering FinTech courses in India are BITS Pilani, IIMs in India, SP Jain Global Management. The course fee can range from INR 2- INR 3 lakh and the eligibility varies according to the institute. Most FinTech courses are available online.

Does FinTech pay well? ›

The average fintech salary in the USA is $125,131 per year or $64.17 per hour. Entry level positions start at $91,946 per year while most experienced workers make up to $183,027 per year.

Is FinTech a Bachelor degree? ›

Eligibility. The minimum qualification required to pursue a B.Com (FinTech) is the completion of 12th Standard/HSC/10+2 (or equivalent Level of Examination) with a minimum of 45 % marks in any stream (Science, Commerce and Arts) from any recognized Board.

What is the top FinTech company? ›

Stripe: $95 billion

The company remains the most valuable American private fintech with a $95 billion valuation raised in a 2021 Series H round, and is the world's fourth most valuable private company, following tiktok owner Bytedance, Elon Musk's SpaceX and Chinese fast fashion seller SHEIN.

Why is it important to study FinTech? ›

As the reach of financial technology grows, so too does employer demand for skilled professionals with sound knowledge of the FinTech industry. Understanding how to drive FinTech innovation is highly employable knowledge that opens up a world of career options.

Can you get a masters in FinTech? ›

A CAREER

The University of Connecticut (UConn) offers one of the world's first STEM-designated Master's (MS) in Financial Technology (FinTech) and a FinTech Graduate Certificate Program offered online and in-person.

Are FinTech jobs in demand? ›

The most in-demand remote jobs in 2022 are in FinTech. Looking forward to 2023, you may be considering a career in the financial technology (FinTech) industry.

What is FinTech entry level jobs? ›

Fintech Entry Level jobs
  • Software Engineer - Campus Entry-Level. Capital Management3.7. ...
  • SOFTWARE ENGINEER - CAMPUS ENTRY-LEVEL. Peak64.0. ...
  • People and Office Ambassador. NMI. ...
  • Fintech Analyst. StubHub3.8. ...
  • Talent Acquisition Specialist/Recruiter. ...
  • Attorney (Monetary Affairs & Payment Systems) ...
  • Fintech Analyst. ...
  • Trading Specialist.

What is a career in FinTech like? ›

Every day, fintech professionals race to create products that run the gamut from budgeting apps to mobile investment portfolios and automated payment software. This uptick in interest and investment has led to significant opportunities for those who want to build careers in fintech.

Do you need to know coding for FinTech? ›

Like the data analytics bootcamp, the fintech bootcamp does not require coding experience but does recommend a bachelor's degree or at least two years of professional experience in finance, statistics, or a related field.

How do I get into FinTech with no experience? ›

To get a job in FinTech with no experience, the key lies in first getting to know the many layers of the industry and honing your chosen skills. This often includes applying for internships, jumping at opportunities that may come your way, and connecting with people in the field.

Should I pursue a career in FinTech? ›

As one of the fastest-growing industries, the fintech industry is well-suited to people who are passionate about technology — especially those who want to have access to and work with newer technologies or want experience working with newer technologies.

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