Best double majors for finance students
Best double majors for finance students
Understand numbers on a broader level across industries
A finance degree is one of the most in-demand business degrees and can open doors to careers across nearly every industry. Pairing it with a second major can expand your opportunities even further. Whether you're interested in corporate finance, banking, investments, real estate or another business field, a double major can help you broaden your knowledge, explore new interests and prepare for a wider range of career opportunities.
Why double major in finance?
No matter which business industry you land in, having a strong understanding of finance and how numbers drive business decisions can be a valuable asset throughout your career. A double major can help fill skill gaps, align your strengths with another area of interest, and target specific career paths. It’s most common to pair Finance with Real Estate, Accounting or Economics.
How to choose the right finance double major
The UNI’s finance degree is split into three tracks: Financial Management, Investments and Personal Wealth Management. The Financial Management and Investments tracks offer the most flexibility for double majoring, as you can choose major electives in real estate, economics, or accounting, with courses that count toward each major. Be sure to work with an advisor in the Office for Professional Distinction to discuss these double-major opportunities.
Choosing a double major depends on your career goals and aspirations. If you wish to enter commercial or residential real estate, for example, you might choose to double major in Real Estate to help you better grasp the numbers side of the business. For a second example, adding economics as a double major provides a strong background of how markets work, providing value to graduates seeking roles at commercial banks or with investment companies.
Finance + real estate
Finance and real estate, Wilson College’s most popular double major — and for good reason. Both majors are housed within the Finance department, so you can double-count two upper-level major courses. This means you only take four additional classes to add a second major. The Real Estate program focuses on commercial real estate, and courses satisfy the state’s educational requirements to complete a real estate sales license. By pairing both majors, you’ll be able to better understand how the financial and real estate sectors interact, such as working with lenders, banks and underwriters.
Finance + accounting
Finance and accounting are a natural pairing for students interested in corporate finance, financial reporting and strategic decision-making. Both majors build a strong foundation in analyzing financial performance, managing budgets and evaluating business investments. By combining these programs, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how organizations track financial health and use that information to make informed business decisions. This combination is especially valuable for careers in corporate finance, financial planning, consulting and leadership roles.
Finance + economics
Finance and economics complement one another by combining financial decision-making with a broader understanding of markets and economic trends. Students interested in banking, investments or financial analysis can benefit from learning how economic conditions influence businesses, consumers and global markets. Together, these majors provide the analytical skills needed to evaluate investment opportunities, assess financial risk and understand the forces shaping the economy.
Finance + business analytics
Finance and business analytics prepare students to make data-driven business decisions in an increasingly technology-focused world. By combining financial expertise with data analysis, visualization and predictive modeling, you'll learn how to transform complex data into actionable insights. This double major is well suited for students interested in financial analysis, investment research, risk management, fintech and other careers where data plays a central role in business strategy.
Finance + artificial intelligence
Finance and artificial intelligence (AI) combine business expertise with one of the fastest-growing technologies in the workforce. As organizations increasingly use AI to improve forecasting, automate financial processes and uncover insights from data, professionals who understand both finance and AI are in high demand. By pairing these majors, you'll learn how to apply programming, predictive analytics and generative AI to solve real business challenges while developing the ethical and strategic decision-making skills employers value.
These are just a few of the many double major opportunities available across the Wilson College of Business and the University of Northern Iowa. If you're interested in exploring additional options and finding the combination that best supports your career goals, meet with a finance faculty member or department head, and work with your academic advisor to see how a second — or even third — major could fit into your plan of study.
Is a double major in finance worth it?
Yes! By choosing to double major, you’ll be able to expand your knowledge and skill set in two majors, making you potentially more marketable to employers upon graduation. Because some courses double count in each major, you likely have the space to add a second major. Your academic advisor can help you determine how to best fit required courses in your schedule.
Whether you decide to add a second major or not, we offer other opportunities to expand your knowledge with the commercial Banking and the financial and real estate sales certificates.
