Finance Scholarships

Finance is Fierce, Compete for Generous Scholarships

Finance and Accounting have taken their place alongside the most popular of college majors. As the global economy becomes more interrelated, the need for highly trained accounting professionals has grown exponentially and career prospects for college graduates with degrees in Finance have never been better. But students majoring in Finance face stiff competition, and while the business sector is hungry for new talent they only want the best and brightest. For students majoring in Finance and Accounting that means applying to the best business schools in the country, and completing extensive coursework in financial investments, capital management, securities, and international business law.

The better the education the better the career prospects, but that education can be expensive and many students will need to rely on scholarships to help them complete their business studies.

Scholarships for students majoring in Finance and Accounting are typically supported by business schools, colleges and universities, professional associations, and corporations. Finance is a popular major, and that is reflected by the number of available scholarships. However, while the popularity of a major drives up the number of scholarships available for students, it also increases the competition for those scholarships. Students majoring in Finance and Accounting should be prepared to go up against some stiff competition when applying for those coveted scholarship awards.

Scholarships from Colleges and Universities

Colleges, universities, and business schools are prime sources of scholarship opportunities for students majoring in Finance. Schools work hard to attract the very best students to their campuses, and to do that they often offer financial aid as a recruitment incentive. Campus-based scholarships for Finance and Accounting majors are available for both undergraduate and graduate level students. Finance majors are encouraged to speak with their department head, and to visit their school’s offices of financial aid, for details on scholarship opportunities for which they may be eligible.

The following selection of campus-based scholarships should give Finance and Accounting majors a better idea of they types of financial aid available from colleges, universities, and business schools.

• The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers a number of scholarships for students enrolled in its School of Business. Chief among the available programs is the Fetherston Scholarship in Finance, which awards $1500 to an eligible student majoring in Finance at UABs School of Business. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree granting program, must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and must be active in student affairs. UAB also offers the J. Stanley Mackin Scholarship in Finance, the David J. Vanzandt Scholarship in Finance and the Katherine Bridges Freeland Endowed Scholarshipfor students majoring in Finance and Accounting related course. Award amounts vary.
• Walker College of Business offers a full complement of scholarships for students majoring in Finance, Banking or Insurance. Current scholarship programs include the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance Board of Advisors Scholarship, the Elbert V. Bowden Endowed Scholarship, the James K Reaves Financial Planning Annual Scholarship, and the William and David Durham Endowed Scholarship. All scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, and students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply. Final award amounts vary.
• Lubin School of Business at Pace University administers the William C. Freund Center for the Study of Securities Markets Student Scholarship. This program awards four annual scholarships of $2500 each to students majoring in Finance or Economics at the Lubin School of Business. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need.

Scholarships from the Business Community

Businesses, corporations, and professional associations are also major sponsors of scholarships for Finance and Accounting students. Scholarships from the business community are designed to encourage and support the next generation of financial professionals, and may or may not be aligned with a specific college or university. In some instances, Finance scholarships sponsored by corporations and professional associations will target historically underrepresented student groups such as women and minorities.

• The Government Finance Officers Association sponsors their annual Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship. The program awards a $5000 scholarship to high achieving minority students who are majoring in Finance, Economics, or Accounting. Applicants must be full or part-time upper-division undergraduate or graduate students who self identify as African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, Native Hawaiian, or Asian-American.
• The Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance offers two scholarships for women enrolled in a Finance or Accounting program at an accredited college or university. The Undergraduate Scholarship is open to students in their 3rd, 4th, and 5th year of study. The Master’s Scholarship is available to students enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Finance or Accounting. These scholarships are open to the public, and interested students should apply through the nearest chapter of the AFWA.
• The Amicus Foundation sponsors an annual scholarship for students pursuing degrees in Finance at Bard College. The scholarship is open to undergraduate students majoring in Finance or Economics. Final awards are determined on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Award amounts vary according to the availability of funds and the number of annual applicants.
• The American Institute of CPAs sponsors a number of scholarships for students pursuing degrees and careers in Finance and Accounting. The AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students awards $12,000 to full time minority Finance and Accounting majors who are working towards their Doctoral degree. Applicants must have earned a Master’s degree, and must have at least three years practical experience in the Accounting and Finance fields.

Students majoring in Finance have a wealth of professional opportunities ahead of them. They may find work within the private sector, managing financial investments, stocks and securities, or they may find themselves with government positions overseeing various aspects of international trade. The future for Finance majors is as extensive as their educational background. Students looking to take a place in the financial sector will find a wide variety of scholarship opportunities designed to help them pay for the education they need to make their professional ambitions a reality.