What level of math do you need to complete to be in finance? (2024)

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Maggie

Student

Elk River, Minnesota

3 Questions

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I would like to explore the finance field, but one thing that makes me nervous is the amount of college level math required? What courses all need to be taken?

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Shelly-Ann Harper

Strategy and Enterprise Value

7 Answers

Baltimore, Maryland

Updated · ·

Shelly-Ann’s Answer

Hi Maggie,

It depends on what facet of finance you would like to get into. If you are interested in actuarial science, you will need a tremendous amount of math in college and afterwards, because of the nature of the statistical calculations required of the fields. However, if you're more interested in say accounting, then certainly you will need to able to manipulate data mathematically, but not at such a complex level.

Math courses that expose you to logic and analytics will be fantastic for most careers especially finance.

Good luck!

Shelly-Ann recommends the following next steps:

Pinpoint what aspects of math you enjoy

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Alireza Poostindooz

financial consultant

41 Answers

Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran

Updated · ·

Alireza’s Answer

Some of the college courses you might be required to take for a degree in finance include:
1. Calculus – studies the rate of change of a function in terms of variables
2. Statistics – focuses on analyzing and interpreting data
3. Accounting (and/or Financial Accounting) – studies how businesses and organizations record financial transactions
4. Economics – analyzes the behavior of consumers, producers, and government in the economy
5. Financial Management – covers the financial decisions and risk management strategies of a business.

A college degree in finance can be demanding, but it can also be extremely rewarding.

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S Cravin, M.B.A., SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Human Resources

6 Answers

Houston, Texas

Updated · ·

S’s Answer

Usually, if you're considering a finance major in college, it's suggested that you finish around three to four years of math during your high school years. The most advanced level you might need to reach varies based on the college you're interested in, but it could be as high as Algebra II or Pre-Calculus. Once you're in college, the focus shifts more towards subjects like economics and financial accounting.

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Dana Hunt

PwC | Partner, Insurance Risk & Capital Leader

10 Answers

San Antonio, Texas

Updated · ·

Dana’s Answer

Agree with previous answers. To follow on, if you want to pursue a career as an actuary, you can consider actuarial sciences track available at multiple universities. If no university in your state offers actuarial science, look into whether or not the out of state tuition is waived for you if attending college in another state. An actuarial science degree will have a curriculum with the right mathematics (and statistics) courses, as well.

If you want a career in finance, more generally, it's still good to take college level math and stats classes. Recommend you also consider courses in data analytics and AI. Take courses that help you understand macro-economics and the world around you. Courses that help you understand the M&A environment will also be helpful.

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sharyl Allen

Lead and Coach

8 Answers

Helena, Montana

Updated · ·

sharyl’s Answer

Hi Maggie,

When it comes to finance, the route you choose can influence the skills you'll need. But don't worry, it's not as daunting as it may seem! At the very least, you'll want to be comfortable with business calculus, statistics, and financial accounting.

Remember, math isn't an exclusive club - it's something everyone can learn, including you! If you're feeling a bit uneasy, try to identify what's causing your apprehension. A great resource to help you shift your mindset is Dr. Jo Boaler's "Mathematical Mindset". It's an amazing tool for anyone who might think they can't conquer math. Trust me, you can and you will!

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Seyi Odusami

Business Valuation

2 Answers

Jersey City, New Jersey

Updated · ·

Seyi’s Answer

Hi there,

While each college or university may have its own unique curriculum, common math courses often include Statistics and Calculus. Nevertheless, you'll find that math is a crucial component in numerous Finance courses. For instance, a course like "Financial Accounting" may not be strictly a math course, but it does incorporate mathematical concepts. The same applies to an "Intro to Finance" class, where math is utilized in certain aspects of the instruction.

The encouraging news is that every school offers resources to assist and guide you through each course. This can include scheduled tutoring sessions with teaching assistants, or if you're at a smaller college, you might even have the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with your professors to help navigate the coursework.

So remember, even if Math isn't your preferred subject, don't let that deter you from pursuing a career in Finance. As you progress through your classes and hone your analytical abilities, you'll find that understanding and applying mathematical concepts will become increasingly easier.

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Grete Gaigalas

Compliance and Risk Analyst

7 Answers

Austin, Texas

Updated · ·

Grete’s Answer

Hi Maggie,

This answer depends on the college/ university you attend. From personal experience, I attained my undergraduate degree in Finance and had to take Business Calculus and Business Statistics to meet the mathematics credit requirements.

The best advice would be to make sure to take the time and study to pass these courses and attend your professor's office hours.

Best of luck!

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What level of math do you need to complete to be in finance? (2024)

FAQs

What level of math do you need to complete to be in finance? ›

Some of the main math-related skills that the financial industry requires are: mental arithmetic (“fast math”), algebra, trigonometry, and statistics and probability. A basic understanding of these skills should be good enough and can qualify you for most finance jobs.

What level of math is needed for finance? ›

Usually, if you're considering a finance major in college, it's suggested that you finish around three to four years of math during your high school years. The most advanced level you might need to reach varies based on the college you're interested in, but it could be as high as Algebra II or Pre-Calculus.

What type of math is used in finance? ›

Financial Mathematics is the field of applied mathematics that involves defining problems in finance and providing solutions using methods that draw from probability, statistics, differential equations, optimization, numerical methods, and data science.

Is finance class a lot of math? ›

Math is used in finance to a certain degree. However, this is more in terms of using it to make analyses and understand logical trends than it is used as theoretical math. Advanced theory is not usually required for a career in finance.

Do I need pre-calc for finance? ›

While pre-calculus may not be an explicit requirement for every business degree, having a solid foundation in math is pretty important for business programs. Many business degrees require courses in statistics, accounting, and finance, all of which rely on mathematical concepts.

Can I do finance if I'm bad at math? ›

Basically, the level of math that would be needed in finance is nothing different from the level we use daily. Because of the misperception, that one needs to be good at math to major in finance, many students don't even attempt to take finance classes at DVC.

Is finance a lot of hard math? ›

One thing that's for sure is the high amount of math you will need to study. Finance is a mathematical discipline, so if you aren't as comfortable with math as with other ways of thinking, you may find it more challenging. Additionally, finance also makes use of a vast, highly specific vocabulary.

Is finance a hard major? ›

Finance degrees are generally considered to be challenging. In a program like this, students gain exposure to new concepts, from financial lingo to mathematical problems, so there can be a learning curve.

Do you use calculus in finance? ›

Portfolio optimization where calculus is used to optimize investment portfolios by finding the mix of assets that maximizes returns while minimizing risk. Option pricing where the Black-Scholes model, based on calculus, is used to price options and derivatives, crucial for trading and risk management.

Does finance pay well? ›

Finance professionals also earn above-average salaries. BLS data indicates that personal financial advisors earned a median annual income of nearly $95,390 as of 2022, more than double the median annual salary for all occupations nationwide.

What's the hardest math class? ›

The most difficult math courses I have encountered thus far have included advanced calculus, abstract algebra, and topology (and they will generally only continue to get more challenging each semester).

Why is finance so complicated? ›

Finance has always been complex. More precisely it has always been opaque, and complexity is a means of rationalizing opacity in societies that pretend to transparency. Opacity is absolutely essential to modern finance. It is a feature not a bug until we radically change the way we mobilize economic risk-bearing.

What is grade level math? ›

Arithmetic (grades k-8) Pre Algebra (grades 6-9) Algebra 1 (grades 8-10) Geometry (grades 9-10)*

Is stats or calc better for finance? ›

AP Stats is more important for business and especially marketing majors. Statistics concepts are used in nearly every role in the business world, whereas the same cannot be said for calculus. AP Stats will allow you to develop your spike, and it is more likely to be a boost to your GPA than AP Calc.

Which business degree has the least math? ›

Human resources is a common concentration offered within business administration programs and requires little math. Human resources emphasizes interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and communication. Marketing is another big area of business that does not necessarily require much math.

Does finance use calculus? ›

Mortgage financing where calculus is used to calculate monthly mortgage payments, determine amortization schedules, and assess the financial feasibility of real estate investments.

Do you need linear algebra for finance? ›

Linear algebra is used to study financial trading strategies and expectations. Financial conditions are examined via matrix equations, using rank, column space, and null space arguments.

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