Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Northeastern University Professional Programs

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$55,914

Est. from MA median (11 programs)

Median Debt

$38,115

63% above national median

Analysis

With $38,115 in debt—about 42% higher than Massachusetts' typical finance program—Northeastern Professional Programs graduates face substantial borrowing for their credential. That said, the debt load remains manageable relative to earnings: based on comparable Massachusetts finance programs, first-year graduates earn around $55,914, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.68, which sits comfortably below the 1.0 threshold where repayment becomes burdensome.

The four-year earnings figure of $68,364 is actual data for this program and suggests reasonable income growth, landing below Boston College or Bentley but competitive with UMass-Amherst. What's less clear is how this Professional Programs format—likely designed for working adults or non-traditional students—translates to outcomes compared to Northeastern's flagship campus. The extremely low Pell grant participation (4%) hints at a student body that may already have financial resources or career experience, potentially explaining both the higher debt tolerance and the decent earnings trajectory.

For parents weighing this option, the key question is whether the premium over state peers justifies itself. Similar finance programs in Massachusetts carry $26,674 in median debt, meaning you're paying roughly $11,500 extra here. If the Northeastern brand, flexible format, or specific career connections deliver tangible advantages for your student's situation, that premium could make sense. If not, several Massachusetts programs offer comparable estimated earnings with significantly less debt.

Where Northeastern University Professional Programs Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Northeastern University Professional Programs	—	$68,364	—
Boston College	$82,495	$110,242	+34%
Bentley University	$72,309	$92,531	+28%
Stonehill College	$58,832	$90,245	+53%
University of Massachusetts-Amherst	$68,920	$83,610	+21%

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (24 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBoston	—	$55,914*	$68,364	$38,115	—
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill	$67,680	$82,495*	$110,242	$18,000	0.22
Bentley UniversityWaltham	$58,150	$72,309*	$92,531	$26,000	0.36
University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst	$17,357	$68,920*	$83,610	$23,250	0.34
Endicott CollegeBeverly	$39,212	$62,878*	—	$27,000	0.43
Stonehill CollegeEaston	$54,500	$58,832*	$90,245	$26,000	0.44
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 Northeastern University Professional Programs, approximately 4% 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 11 similar programs in MA. Actual outcomes may vary.