Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Messiah University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$57,855

Est. from PA median (23 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,980

Est. from PA median (17 programs)

Analysis

Finance graduates from Pennsylvania programs typically start around $58,000, and Messiah's estimated outcomes align closely with this state median—though it's worth noting these figures come from peer institutions rather than Messiah's own graduates. The estimated $27,000 in debt translates to a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, suggesting monthly loan payments that shouldn't overwhelm an entry-level finance salary.

What's harder to gauge is Messiah's competitive positioning. The top finance programs in Pennsylvania—Penn, Villanova, Lehigh—produce first-year earnings that dwarf the state median, ranging from $67,000 to $123,000. Whether Messiah's outcomes cluster closer to these elite programs or fall below the median depends entirely on factors we can't see in the suppressed data: employer relationships, internship pipelines, and alumni networks specific to this campus.

The fundamentals suggest a reasonable investment for a finance degree—the debt load is moderate and comparable programs produce starting salaries that support repayment. But if your child is choosing between multiple Pennsylvania finance programs, you'll need to dig into placement outcomes and career services directly with the school, since the peer-program estimates can't tell you whether Messiah's graduates land at Philadelphia investment firms or smaller regional banks.

Where Messiah University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (49 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg	$40,640	$57,855*	—	$26,980*	—
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia	$66,104	$122,698*	$206,646	$12,865*	0.10
Villanova UniversityVillanova	$64,701	$82,008*	$110,166	$26,197*	0.32
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem	$62,180	$76,720*	$107,260	$23,250*	0.30
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia	$51,340	$66,072*	$85,648	$25,000*	0.38
Widener UniversityChester	$53,638	$62,672*	—	$26,980*	0.43
National Median	—	$53,590*	—	$23,332*	0.44

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Messiah University, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.