Introduction
Why pursue a finance degree at North Central College?
We’ve carefully balanced finance courses that develop practical career knowledge with a business core that creates a broad set of skills that employers value. With this degree under your belt, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running whether you find yourself in the field of corporate finance, investments, wealth management, financial services, law or government.
You can also:
Simulate trades and access thousands of proprietary reports and data screens in the Bloomberg Finance Lab, where 10 workstations are equipped with the Bloomberg Terminal software, the iconic dual monitors and Bloomberg’s unique keyboards. You can also choose to become “Bloomberg certified” by completing a series of modules that cover economic theory, economic indicators, currencies, fixed income vehicles, options, equities and more.
Join the Finance Club and participate in networking events, attend guest speaker and panel presentations, and visit the Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board of Options, and the Federal Reserve.
Participate in the Student-Managed Investment Fund to research investments, recommend investment options, and manage a real portfolio’s risk and returns.
Prepare to sit for CFA Level 1 exam as North Central curriculum meets requirement to be a CFA Program Affiliated University
Compete for internships and job opportunities arranged through faculty, alumni and our Career Development office.
Learn about personal finance and work with local high schools through the Center for Financial Literacy
Finance, B.B.A.
Finance broadly emphasizes the study of financial instruments, institutions and markets. Graduates are employed in a wide variety of careers including financial analysis, financial advising, financial instrument investment and portfolio management and insurance. Finance professionals work for investment banking firms, private firms, governmental units and not-for-profit organizations.
The finance major requirements provide a substantial portion of the content coverage for the level 1 examination in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. In addition to the required finance courses and common SBE core, students interested in obtaining the CFA designation are encouraged to complete additional finance, economics and accounting electives.
Finance Minor
The Finance Minor introduces students to key and core aspects of the financial markets, investments and financial institutions. A minor in finance is appropriate for a wide range of student majors and can provide the basis for continued graduate study in finance at the masters' degree-level or a Master of Business Administration.
Finance Internships and Jobs
A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.
Internships
Finance majors have numerous internship opportunities. The following are some examples of recent internship experiences:
Financial services intern, Wachovia, Naperville, IL
Mortgage lender, Aspen Mortgage Corporation, Naperville, IL
Retirement planning, Northwestern Mutual, Lombard, IL
Financial advisor, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Naperville, IL
Financial anaylst, Calamos Investments, Naperville, IL
Careers
Companies recently hiring finance majors:
Allstate
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
BMO Harris Bank
Edward Jones
Exelon
FCB Banks
Ford Motors
Groupon
Hub Group
Liberty Mutual
Navistar
Northern Trust Bank
Walgreens
Invest in your future
Choosing the right college is a big decision. Don’t make it alone. North Central’s admission and financial aid team is here to help you design a financial aid solution that works best for you and your family.
Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.
Admission Timeline
North Central makes admission decisions on a rolling basis starting on October 1 for the next academic year. While there is no set deadline, we recommend the following priority deadlines for full consideration and to allow time for visa processing:
May 1 - for the semester beginning in August
October 1 - for the semester beginning in January.
Our academic calendar will have two semesters starting in August 2020, and you can start your program in August or January. Most new students begin in August.
The Bloomberg Finance Lab
Leading business and financial subscribers worldwide use the Bloomberg Terminal, a software platform that provides trusted real-time and historical data, market-moving news and analytics to help business and financial professionals make better-informed investment decisions. The Bloomberg Finance Lab, housed in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, features 10 workstations equipped with the Bloomberg Terminal software, the iconic dual monitors and Bloomberg’s unique keyboards. Students will use the most updated data and trading platform, developing skills in data analysis that are only possible with this dedicated equipment. Every North Central business student completes at least one course in our Bloomberg Finance Lab. Students can also become “Bloomberg certified” by completing a series of modules that cover economic theory, economic indicators, currencies, fixed income vehicles, options, equities and more.