Seattle University quad and fountain looking north

Finance, BABA

Embark on a transformative journey into modern finance with Albers' highly ranked undergraduate finance program.

About this Program

A Transformative Journey into Modern Finance

Join Albers' highly ranked finance program in the Northwest and gain a competitive edge in today's dynamic business landscape. Our curriculum, ranging from corporate finance to investments, is grounded in robust financial theory and enriched by hands-on experience. With a focus on cutting-edge techniques and leveraging globalization and technology, we equip students to navigate financial intricacies and make strategic decisions using data analytics.

But we don’t stop there. Our Jesuit approach extends beyond finance to explore creating equity and prosperity for all. Shape the future of finance with us and become a versatile professional ready to make an impact.

Connecting to Powerful Support

Through close relationships with faculty, you’ll learn cutting-edge finance strategies and build on your strengths and goals. Our classes are small and experiential, which means you can really get to know your professors and other students.

These relationships don’t stop at graduation either. This network of finance professionals who care about creating a more equitable world stays with you throughout your career.

Your classmates and professors are only part of your new finance network, though. Our strong connections to the best companies in Seattle open doors and create opportunities that could last a lifetime.

Undergraduate Finance at a Glance

Learn how this degree from the Department of Finance will contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University degree can be.

Choosing this degree propels you into the heart of financial expertise. Your academic journey involves mastering core business principles while immersing yourself in the intricacies of financial markets, investment strategies, and risk management. With a focus on finance, you dissect financial statements, analyze market trends, and learn to make strategic decisions that impact a company's fiscal health. Throughout your studies, you explore topics like corporate finance, portfolio management, and financial modeling, gaining the skills essential for navigating the complex world of finance. Armed with a specialized BA, you emerge ready to steer businesses through the challenges of the financial landscape.

Undergraduate Business Foundation

  • Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills.
  • Demonstrate competent oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrate competent leadership skills.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the body of knowledge encompassed by the UG Business Foundation courses.

Finance (FINC)

  • Describe and explain to lay individuals financial concepts relating to: value creation, risk management, and the functioning of financial institutions and world financial markets, for corporate and investor decision-making.
  • Demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills within an ethical framework.
  • Apply tools such as spreadsheet, mathematical, and statistical modeling to analyze problems and issues in finance.
  • Employ discipline, knowledge and skills orally and in written form in a professional manner in service to the community.
  • Recognize social justice issues inherent in financial decision-making.

Add a minor in finance and broaden your impact. To earn a minor degree, you’ll complete at least 30 credits in this area.

What You’ll Learn

Learn about the classes you’ll take as a student here.

checkmark badge icon

Top 5% World Business Schools & AACSB accredited 

Albers School of Business and Economics

93%

Placement Rate

For graduates of Albers School of Business and Economics

comment with a dollar sign icon

$70,000

Average starting salary for business majors

Supporting Your Academic and Career Success

Amazon headquarters in the midst of Seattle buildings at night

Connected to Seattle’s Best Jobs

There’s no better place to learn about business than at the Albers School of Business and Economics. Our strong connections to the best companies in Seattle open doors and create opportunities for all our students. The school's ideal location in Capitol Hill is a hop and skip away from the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies. The Albers Career Center connects you to the mentors and resources for the current job market.

A student with her application at a job and internship fair

Real-World Experience That Makes a Difference

Hands-on classes feature projects that connect you to our vibrant neighborhood and the broader city of Seattle. You’ll see right away how your skills can make an impact on the businesses and communities in Seattle. If you want to be part of changing the world through business, you’re in the right place.

Additionally, as a Seattle University student, you have the unique opportunity to join the Redhawk Investment Fund, where members learn the science and art of business valuation and socially responsible investing while actively managing a portfolio using real money. This means you not only gain practical experience but also contribute to positive change in the financial landscape.

A trio of students conferring and laughing over a laptop.

Studying Support

Tutors are here to help you practice and study so you can get the most out of your classes. Labs related to specific coursework—from accounting to economics to writing—are free services to help you catch up or get ahead in class.

Industry-Focused Advisory Boards: Strong Network, Cutting-Edge Coursework

You’ll be making a difference in the Seattle finance environment long before your first job. Experience-based classes feature projects that connect you to our vibrant neighborhood and the broader city of Seattle.  

In your classes, you’ll get hands-on experience through projects that develop the personal and professional abilities new graduates need. How do we know? Our faculty work directly with Seattle’s best finance professionals on the finance department’s advisory board. 

The advisory board includes professionals from Seattle’s private, public and nonprofit sectors. Through the advisory board, faculty tune into changing business and social needs. They design assignments that examine current issues in finance and develop the skills you’ll need to thrive.

Many Types of Industries

As a finance major, you can work in all kinds of different industries, including

  • Investment and private wealth management
  • Corporate finance
  • Banking
  • Alternative investments
  • Government and regulatory agencies 

Popular Finance Job Titles

As a highly desired graduate in a high-demand career, you’ll find many finance opportunities right after graduation. Here are some job titles and companies for our recent grads:

  • Business Development Coordinator/Consultant - Brighton Jones/Palo Alto Networks
  • Business Project Manager – Foxconn
  • Data Analyst – Amazon
  • Financial Analyst - Expedia/Microsoft
  • Financial Planning Analyst – Starbucks
  • IT Capital Finance Analyst – Boeing
  • Personal Finance Advisor – BECU/Citi/Mainspring Wealth Advisors
  • Pricing Analyst – Alaska Airlines

More Ways to Prepare for Success

  • Manage real investments as a portfolio manager or analyst for the Redhawk Fund. 
  • Join the Albers Investment Club and participate in competitions with other universities around the Northwest. 
  • Set your sights on transforming finance globally and compete in the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

From Our Alumni

Alicia Younker

“I love the passion that Albers professors and students share for conducting ethical business and forming leaders to create a better world. If you attend just one class by an Albers professor, it’s obvious that they’re not here for the paycheck or to conduct research; they’re here because they want to impact and further the growth of their students beyond the classroom curriculum."

'19, BABA Finance

Featured Faculty

Here to Help Learn More

For more information about the Finance major or minor at Seattle U, contact:

Cathy Cao

Chair, Department of Finance

Get in Touch

We're here to help. If you have questions about this program, contact: