Finance Programs and Careers in South Carolina

This guide provides information for those interested in finance degrees and careers in South Carolina. Universities in the state provide a wide range of finance program options from Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Finance programs to Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees with Finance concentrations. Some programs are available in an accelerated format, while others aimed at working professionals can be completed through evening classes or completely online. A student with a degree in finance in South Carolina may have an advantage in finding career opportunities in positions such as financial analyst, financial manager, and personal financial advisor. Continue reading for details on specific degrees in finance, as well as potential post-graduation employment opportunities and salary information for those seeking careers in finance.

Quick Facts

• There are 19 colleges and universities with finance degree programs in South Carolina.¹
• 1 school offers a certificate in finance.¹
• No schools offer an associate’s degree in finance.¹
• 18 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in finance.¹
• 6 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in finance.¹
• No schools ranked in Forbes’ Best Business Schools 2019.²
• 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Business and Finance Majors 2020.³
• No school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Undergraduate Finance Programs 2021.⁴
• No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Finance Programs 2021.⁵

For not-for-profit colleges and universities with finance degree programs.

Table of Contents

• Comparison of Finance Programs
• Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in South Carolina
• Select Schools in South Carolina with Finance Degrees
• South Carolina Finance Careers and Salary Outlook
• Finance Associations in South Carolina

South Carolina Finance Program Comparison

We have developed the following table to help you compare all of the finance programs in South Carolina from not-for-profit schools that offer programs with a concentration in finance. In addition to allowing you to compare the business school’s accreditation, finance degrees that appear in bold are Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute University Affiliation Programs, those that have been recognized for curricula aligned to preparing for the CFA Exam.

• * indicates combined program.
• — indicates none.
• N.Av. indicates no data available.

Top-Ranked Schools with Finance Programs in South Carolina

Georgetown CEW’s ROI Ranking by Long-Term Net Present Value 2019

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) has compared 4,500 colleges and universities on graduates’ return on investment (ROI). We use their net present value (NPV) ranking, which is the current dollar value of earning a four-year degree from the school over a 40-year horizon.

• Citadel Military College of South Carolina (#207; $1,197,000)
• Clemson University (#312; $1,106,000)
• Wofford College (#414; $1,050,000)
• University of South Carolina-Columbia (#858; $930,000)
• College of Charleston (#1,420; $832,000)
• Coastal Carolina University (#1,680; $796,000)
• University of South Carolina-Upstate (#1,850; $774,000)
• University of South Carolina-Aiken (#1,867; $771,000)
• Charleston Southern University (#2,011; $751,000)⁷

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Business and Finance Majors 2020

• College of Charleston

Select Schools in South Carolina with Finance Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Financial Management program is designed for students seeking careers as a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), financial analyst, bank manager, or securities broker. The program teaches students how financial markets function and how financial resources are used through internships and hands-on projects. Coursework emphasizes financial management, strategic planning, managerial accounting, investments, and international finance. The curriculum comprises a minimum of 125 credit hours and includes such courses as Personal Finance, Consumer Behavior, and Legal Environment of Business. The College of Business in Charleston is IACBE-accredited.

University of South Carolina

At the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina (USC), students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance degree. The AACSB-accredited program offers three tracks: Corporate Finance, Investments, and Financial Services. Students gain hands-on experience through service learning, internships, and field trips to leading industries. A minimum of 122 credit hours is required to earn the degree, which includes 40 hours of core coursework, 12 to 21 hours beyond the common core, and 18 additional hours in general education or business. Fifteen credit hours of finance courses must be completed, including Corporate Financial Analysis; Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management; and Financial Statement Analysis. University scholarships are available to qualifying students. USC also offers BBA degrees in Real Estate and Risk Management and Insurance.

Traditional Master’s Programs

Coastal Carolina University

Coastal Carolina University’s Wall College of Business offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a concentration in Commercial and Investment Real Estate. The 10-course, 30-credit hour program develops skills in financial and economic modeling through hands-on projects and tasks. Students complete the business foundation of the MBA program plus an additional three courses (nine credit hours) of concentration courses including Value Management, Real Estate Market Analysis, and Real Estate Seminar. The Wall College of Business is AACSB-accredited and offers international internship opportunities as well as graduate assistantships. Students may participate in business-oriented student organizations such as the Financial Management Association (FMA). The program can be completed online, in person, or in a hybrid format. A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Finance and a minor in Actuarial Science are also available.

College of Charleston

The College of Charleston (CofC) offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in a concentrated one-year format. This 36-credit hour accelerated program is ideal for those with recent undergraduate degrees or those looking to change their careers. Before classes begin in August, students take three online business foundation courses. The curriculum includes core classes such as Accounting Issues for the Business Manager, Financial Management, Marketing Management, the Global Economy, and Operations Management. Students can then tailor their electives to choose a focus area like Finance, Hospitality Revenue Management, or Marketing. The finance concentration curriculum teaches advanced financial modeling, cash flow analysis, and risk management. The program emphasizes a global curriculum and leadership skills to prepare students for challenges in the business world.

University of South Carolina

At the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, students can earn a Master of International Business (MIB) degree. The International Trade and Investment track focuses on international finance and trade for students interested in investment banking, financial consultancy, and the financial management of multinational institutions. This program is highly customizable, and students can take interdisciplinary courses in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law as well. The curriculum emphasizes a broad and global approach to international business and government interactions. In addition to classroom work, students also attend weekly professional development activities. USC also offers a two-year double degree option, in which students can earn one degree from the Moore School of Business and a second degree from an international partner university. Graduates with MIB degrees can go on to work for multinational corporations, international organizations, and governmental organizations.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Limestone College

Limestone College in Gaffney offers an online Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with a concentration in Finance for students pursuing careers in financial institutions or departments. Students can complete the BS through online and evening classes. Students study key business foundations such as asset management, acquisition, and allocation. The curriculum also focuses on strategic thinking, business ethics, communication, and problem-solving through case studies and simulations. Classes are small so students receive individualized instruction. Required coursework includes Mathematics for Business and Economics; Intermediate Financial Management; and World Trade and International Business. Students have the option of completing professional certifications such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Chartered Life Underwriters (CLU).

University of South Carolina-Aiken

At the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA), students can earn an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance. The curriculum emphasizes a broad and global approach to international business and government interactions. Students take a minimum of 36 credit hours, or 12 courses, to earn the degree, but students without an undergraduate degree in business must complete two additional prerequisite courses. Courses in the degree plan include Quantitative Methods and Business Analytics; Advanced Corporate Finance; and Information Systems and Analytics for Accounting and Finance. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above is recommended for admission, though acceptable GMAT/GRE scores and/or at least three years of professional work experience may offset a lower GPA.

Winthrop University

At Winthrop University’s College of Business Administration, students can earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) 100% online. The highly customizable, AACSB-accredited program allows students to blend electives to create a specialization in Finance. The program is designed to develop skills in communication, strategic thinking, ethics, and leadership. The 36-credit hour curriculum includes 12 courses (27 core credit hours), such as: Organizational Leadership and Communications; Financial Policy Management; and Managerial Economics. Although a business background is not required for admission, students may need to complete prerequisite foundational courses prior to beginning the program. Winthrop boasts small class sizes and a diverse student population. Students may begin the program in any semester and a GMAT waiver is available for those who qualify.

South Carolina Finance Careers and Salary Outlook

South Carolina is home to many companies that may offer career opportunities to those who have completed degrees in finance. Urban centers such as Charleston, Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and Greenville are home to many financial institutions, including state banks and financial services institutions. The state economy comprises many different industries such as agribusiness, aerospace manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, and shipping and logistics. Companies with offices in South Carolina like Boeing, Intertech, and BMW may have opportunities in financial roles.

Due to a generally low cost of living in the state, many positions in South Carolina pay an average annual wage that is lower than the national average.⁸ However, growth projections in the state are comparable to national averages. Financial examiner positions in the state are projected to grow at a rate of 15.8% annually through 2028, compared to the national average of 7.1%.⁹ In fact, the metropolitan area of Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia has the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation nationally.¹⁰ In the same area, financial managers earn the ninth-highest salary for this occupation out of all metropolitan areas in the country, with an average annual salary of $166,150.¹¹ Personal financial advisors earn an average annual salary of $87,170 in South Carolina, significantly less than the national average of $119,290, but these positions are projected to grow at a rate of 21.5% in South Carolina through 2028, much higher than the 7% projected national growth rate.^8,9,12 Financial analyst occupations are expected to grow 14.6% in South Carolina through 2028, much higher than the national projected growth rate of 6.2%.⁹

South Carolina Finance Salary Information

Finance Associations in South Carolina

• Government Finance Officers Association of South Carolina (GFOASC): Group advocating for professional standards in the public funds industry that offers continued education courses and hosts an annual conference for government finance officers in the state.
• Financial Planning Association of South Carolina (South Carolina FPA): Organization for those in the financial planning industry that advocates for the industry as a whole and also hosts educational seminars and chapter meetings.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Forbes Best Business Schools 2019: https://www.forbes.com/business-schools/list/
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Undergraduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-finance
5. US News & World Report Best Graduate Finance Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/finance-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Business Schools 2021: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools
7. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Ranking ROI of 4,500 US Colleges and Universities: https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/CollegeROI/
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, South Carolina: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm
9. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/projections/longterm
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Examiners: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132061.htm
11. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Financial Managers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes113031.htm
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wages, Personal Financial Advisors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132052.htm