Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (2024)

Updated April 5, 2024

4 min read

The educational requirements for a stock broker are a bachelor's degree, typically in business, finance, economics, accounting, or marketing. This is the most popular degree for stock brokers, according to the job description data.

What education do you need to become a stock broker?

What degree do you need to be a stock broker?

The most common degree for stock brokers is bachelor's degree, with 77% of stock brokers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 9% and master's degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 77%
  • Master's, 9%
  • Associate, 9%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a stock broker?

The best college majors for a stock broker include business, finance, economics, accounting, marketing, political science, management, communication, psychology, and history. According to experts, these majors provide a solid foundation for a career in stock brokering.

  • Business, 29%
  • Finance, 20%
  • Economics, 9%
  • Accounting, 5%
  • Other Majors, 37%

Most common colleges for stock brokers

Stock brokers often get their degrees at Fordham University, University of Florida, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for stock brokers in the US based on their resumes.
Stock Broker Common CollegePercentages
Fordham University6.57%
University of Florida6.57%
University of Phoenix6.57%
Pace University5.84%
Baruch College of the City University of New York5.84%

Show more common stock broker colleges

Best majors for stock brokers

The best college majors for a stock broker include business, finance, economics, accounting, marketing, political science, management, communication, psychology, and history. According to experts, these majors provide a solid foundation for a career in stock brokering.

RankMajorPercentages
1Business28.5%
2Finance20.3%
3Economics8.5%
4Accounting5.5%
5Marketing4.5%

Show more common stock broker majors

Best colleges for stock brokers

Stock brokers with advanced education from top colleges like the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and University of Southern California typically earn higher salaries and secure better jobs. The best colleges for stock brokers were determined based on metrics like admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, and the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission. Attending colleges such as SUNY at Binghamton, Villanova University, and San Diego State University can significantly impact the future success of aspiring stock brokers.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (1)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (2)

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (3)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (4)

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (5)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (6)

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (7)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (8)

4. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (9)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (10)

5. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (11)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (12)

6. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

7. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$49,880

Enrollment

4,177

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (13)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (14)

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (15)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (16)

9. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (17)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (18)

10. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

20 best online courses for stock brokers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for stock brokers

The most affordable schools for stock brokers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for stock brokers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for stock brokers.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (39)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (40)

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (43)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (44)

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (45)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (46)

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (47)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (48)

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,620

Cost of Attendance

18,136

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (49)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (50)

7. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (51)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (52)

8. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,381

Cost of Attendance

21,034

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (53)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (54)

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,556

Cost of Attendance

19,434

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (55)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (56)

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-State Tuition

$4,094

Cost of Attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for stock brokers

The hardest universities for stock brokers to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for stock brokers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for stock brokers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (57)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (58)

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (59)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (60)

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (61)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (62)

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

4%

SAT Average

1,497

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (63)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (64)

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (65)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (66)

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (67)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (68)

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (69)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (70)

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,407

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (71)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (72)

8. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

9. Bentley University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

43%

SAT Average

1,338

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (73)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (74)

10. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions Rate

42%

SAT Average

1,380

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for stock brokers

The easiest schools for stock brokers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, holy names university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a stock broker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for stock brokers.

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (75)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (76)

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (77)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (78)

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

70%

SAT Average

849

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (79)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (80)

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (81)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (82)

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions Rate

90%

SAT Average

994

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (83)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (84)

5. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

992

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (85)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (86)

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

99%

SAT Average

1,008

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (87)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (88)

7. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

72%

SAT Average

1,017

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (89)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (90)

8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,069

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (91)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (92)

9. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions Rate

78%

SAT Average

1,024

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (93)Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (94)

10. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

83%

SAT Average

1,061

Average stock broker salary by education level

Stock brokers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $72,123 annually. With a Doctorate degree, stock brokers earn a median annual income of $65,884 compared to $59,030 for stock brokers with an Bachelor's degree.
Stock Broker education levelStock Broker salary
Master's Degree$72,123
Bachelor's Degree$59,030
Doctorate Degree$65,884

Stock Broker Education FAQs

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Updated April 5, 2024

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (95)

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia (2024)

FAQs

Best Colleges and Degrees For Stock Brokers - Zippia? ›

Pursuing a degree in business, finance, economics, accounting, or marketing can be beneficial. Certifications such as Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program, Chartered Financial Analyst, and Certified Economic Developer can also be advantageous.

What is the best college major for a stock broker? ›

What Types of Degrees Should I Earn to Become a Stock Broker? Ideally, a prospective stock broker will earn a bachelor's degree in business or a finance-related discipline such as accounting, economics, finance, business administration, marketing, management, or a similar degree.

What college degree is best for stock market? ›

For a career in stock trading, consider pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or Business. These disciplines provide a solid foundation in financial markets, investment strategies, and economic principles.

What education do you need to be a stock broker? ›

To become a stockbroker, obtain a bachelor's degree in business, economics, finance, accounting or other related areas, complete an internship, gain sponsorship from a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) firm and pass the licensing General Securities Representative Exam.

What is the best degree to become a broker? ›

Best majors for brokers

According to the data, the best college majors for a broker are business, finance, and marketing. These majors cover important topics such as real estate fundamentals, real estate law, and mortgage financing.

Is there a college degree for stocks? ›

No specific major is required in this role. Because the field involves a deep understanding of financial principles, laws and regulations, many aspiring traders will seek a major in business administration, finance, economics or even accounting to prepare for a career in this field.

Do you go to college for stock trading? ›

A degree is not required to become a stock trader, but it will help give you necessary skills within the field.

How many years of college do you need to be a stockbroker? ›

It takes at least four years to earn a bachelor's degree to become a stockbroker. Some stockbrokers may choose to earn their master's in business administration to enhance their credentials.

Do stock brokers make a lot of money? ›

Stockbrokers get paid more than most workers. Estimates of the median combined salaries and commissions received by people who sell stocks and other securities to investors range from $62,910 to $149,664 a year.

How do I become a stockbroker without college? ›

Most stock broker positions only require that applicants have the necessary licenses to buy and sell stocks. However, some positions may require prior work experience, so those without a degree may need to begin their careers as stock broker trainees or interns.

How do brokers make so much money? ›

Generally, brokerages make money by charging various fees and commissions on transactions they facilitate and services they provide. The online broker who offers free stock trades receives fees for other services, plus fees from the exchanges.

What is a finance degree? ›

A degree in finance prepares students for graduate studies in finance and careers in consulting, investment advising, regulation compliance, and banking. In addition to the mechanics of finance, the degree explores how finance can improve society.

What majors work on Wall Street? ›

What Degrees Can Get You a Job on Wall Street? Typically, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in a business or math-related major to work on Wall Street. Such majors include finance, business management, economics, accounting, statistics, mathematics, or even computer science.

Which course is best for stock trader? ›

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular stock trading courses
  • Financial Markets: Yale University.
  • Practical Guide to Trading: Interactive Brokers.
  • Trading Basics: Indian School of Business.
  • Trading Strategies in Emerging Markets: Indian School of Business.
  • Stocks and Bonds: University of Michigan.

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