Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (2024)

Updated April 5, 2024

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an investor. Investors usually study business, finance, or accounting. 72% of investors hold a bachelor's degree, and 12% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 2,066 real investor resumes to see exactly what investor education sections show.

The most common colleges for investors are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online investor courses to help get the education required to be an investor.

What education do you need to become an investor?

What degree do you need to be an investor?

The most common degree for investors is bachelor's degree, with 72% of investors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 12% and master's degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 72%
  • Master's, 12%
  • Associate, 9%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become an investor?

According to the education requirements, the best college majors for an investor are business, finance, accounting, economics, and marketing. As stated, public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as business or communications. However, majors like political science, communication, psychology, English, and computer science can also be beneficial for developing essential skills such as interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, speaking, and writing skills.

  • Business, 27%
  • Finance, 16%
  • Accounting, 11%
  • Economics, 6%
  • Other Majors, 40%

Most common colleges for investors

Investors often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, University of California - Davis, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for investors in the US based on their resumes.
Investor Common CollegePercentages
University of Phoenix10.31%
University of California - Davis6.70%
New York University6.19%
University of California, Santa Barbara6.19%
University of Arizona6.19%

Show more common investor colleges

Best majors for investors

According to the education requirements, the best college majors for an investor are business, finance, accounting, economics, and marketing. As stated, public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as business or communications. However, majors like political science, communication, psychology, English, and computer science can also be beneficial for developing essential skills such as interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, speaking, and writing skills.

RankMajorPercentages
1Business27.5%
2Finance16.2%
3Accounting11.3%
4Economics6.3%
5Political Science5.1%

Show more common investor majors

Best colleges for investors

The top colleges for investors, including Northwestern University and the University of Southern California, offer a solid educational foundation. These institutions cater to investors by providing a high admissions rate, strong retention rate, and impressive post-graduation earnings. Additionally, they focus on practical experience, with a high ratio of working graduates and a manageable debt average.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (1)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (2)

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (3)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (4)

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (5)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (6)

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (7)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (8)

4. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (9)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (10)

5. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (11)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (12)

6. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (13)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (14)

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (15)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (16)

9. University of Houston

Houston, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,913

Enrollment

37,291

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (17)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (18)

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

20 best online courses for investors

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9. Brief Intro to Commercial Real Estate

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11. Financial Statement Analysis - Ratio Analysis

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15. The Guide To Office & Industrial Real Estate Investing

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Top 10 most affordable universities for investors

The most affordable schools for investors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for investors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for investors.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (39)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (40)

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (41)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (42)

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (43)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (44)

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (45)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (46)

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (47)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (48)

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (49)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (50)

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,656

Cost of Attendance

21,623

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (51)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (52)

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

8. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (53)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (54)

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (55)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (56)

10. Texas A&M International University

Laredo, TX • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,176

Cost of Attendance

13,914

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for investors

The hardest universities for investors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Southern California, and Boston University.

Some great schools for investors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for investors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (57)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (58)

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (59)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (60)

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (61)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (62)

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (63)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (64)

4. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (65)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (66)

5. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (67)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (68)

6. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

19%

SAT Average

1,466

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

43%

SAT Average

1,338

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (69)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (70)

8. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

42%

SAT Average

1,380

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (71)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (72)

9. Tulane University

New Orleans, LA • Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,428

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (73)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (74)

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for investors

The easiest schools for investors to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an investor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for investors.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (75)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (76)

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (77)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (78)

2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (79)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (80)

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (81)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (82)

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (83)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (84)

5. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,069

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (85)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (86)

6. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (87)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (88)

7. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,060

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (89)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (90)

8. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

93%

SAT Average

994

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (91)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (92)

9. Waynesburg University

Waynesburg, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,080

Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (93)Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (94)

10. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

88%

SAT Average

1,089

Average investor salary by education level

According to our data, investors with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $106,674 annually. Investors with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $90,229.
Investor education levelInvestor salary
Master's Degree$106,674
Bachelor's Degree$90,229

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Best Colleges and Degrees For Investors - Zippia (95)

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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