college students studying together in a library

Finance Department

40%

More than one in three undergraduates are Finance majors. Joining the Finance program means joining a robust community!

97.8%

Employment rate within 90 days of graduation

$76,766

The average starting salary of an undergraduate Finance student

What is Finance?

Interested in learning more? Curious about the broad range of jobs in Finance?

Click here to see highlights from interviews with Financial Industry leaders

Preview "Finance drives decisions and creates analytic power."
Preview "Finance keeps your thumb on the pulse of the economy."
Preview "Women are incredibly risk aware, not risk averse."
Preview "Always be curious, keep learning, and ask questions."
Preview "Finance drives decisions and creates analytic power."
Preview "Finance keeps your thumb on the pulse of the economy."
Preview "Women are incredibly risk aware, not risk averse."
Preview "Always be curious, keep learning, and ask questions."

We asked financial industry leaders, our own finance faculty, and our undergraduate students to tell us a few words that came to mind in association with "Finance." Below are word clouds of the most popular words and ideas that came to mind.

Professionals finance word cloud with analytical, money, quantitative
Finance word cloud from faculty with risk, money, and time
Finance word cloud

New Faculty Members

We're thrilled to introduce the latest additions to our faculty team. These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, innovation, and passion to our academic community.

Finance Faculty Highlights

Our faculty members are more than just educators; they are accomplished leaders in the finance industry and dedicated researchers shaping the future of finance. We take immense pride in highlighting some of their remarkable accomplishments

John Molloy - 2025 Star Educator

At what point did you realize you'd like to teach?
I realized I wanted to be a teacher for a career 6 weeks into the first class I taught.
 

What is a highlight of your teaching career and why?
Being named a top 50 business professor by Poets and Quants in 2020.

 

What is the most surprising thing you've encountered while teaching?
I was most surprised by how much fun it is to hear from former students sharing their success stories.

Helen Moser - 2025 Star Educator

At what point did you realize you'd like to teach?
I started wanting to teach during my MBA Program.  I got involved in some student-faculty activities, and after spending more time with faculty members, I realized this was something I wanted to do.  It comes to me naturally as my Dad, his two sisters and many of my cousins have trained to be educators.
 

What is a highlight of your teaching career and why?
The most rewarding thing about teaching is watching your former students make their way in the world after graduation. I keep in touch with many of my students and get to see the exciting and sometimes remarkable things that they are accomplishing. I like to think that their education at Carlson has a lot of influence in their success and that maybe I also play a tiny part; it is the way I make a difference in the world vicariously through them.

 

What is the most surprising thing you've encountered while teaching?
I am often surprised at how driven students at Carlson are to succeed. And I don't mean to just get through the programs; they want to be the best. I often hear about "this generation of students'" with negativity, but every class, though unique, comes with similar ambition, struggles, strengths and weaknesses. The one difference I do notice is that they seem to get younger every year!

Stuart Webb - 2025 Star Educator

At what point did you realize you'd like to teach?
In high school, when I worked as a math tutor. I loved the moment when something “clicked” for a student, and I realized teaching is about more than knowledge; it’s about building confidence and empowering students.
 

What is a highlight of your teaching career and why?
A former student returned years later to share how much my class had shaped him. He even asked me to join the board of advisors for his company. It was a powerful reminder of the lasting impact teachers can have.

 

What is the most surprising thing you've encountered while teaching?
The pace of change. From smartphones to AI, education has transformed in just a decade. It’s challenging but exciting to adapt and grow alongside my students.

Upcoming Events

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Featured

Finance Seminar - Kjetil Storesletten, Minnesota

In-Person
Join Kjetil Storesletten (Minnesota) for insights on political economy, asset pricing, and economic development.
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Featured

Finance Seminar - Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Columbia

In-Person
Join Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh (Columbia) for insights on real estate, asset pricing, housing, and mortgage markets.
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Featured

Finance Seminar - Stefan Nagel, Chicago

In-Person
Join Stefan Nagel (Chicago) for insights on asset pricing, investor behavior, expectations, and financial markets.
Read More